The stage is set for an absolutely pivotal Game 5 in Phoenix. Who will take the lead in this Finals series that is now a best-of-3?
Going by home teams being unbeaten so far, it should be the Suns but the momentum scale would say the Bucks. How will it go down?
Follow it live with us for the latest updates, scores, stats and highlights.
Final: Bucks 123, Suns 119
Jrue rips it.
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
Giannis runs the floor.
Jrue lobs it up.. Giannis hammer!@Bucks up 4 with 9.8 left in Game 5.#NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/xKhjNrgdbf
Chris Paul to the bucket.. 1-point game on ABC! #NBAFinals @Bucks 120@Suns 119
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
37.8 left. Bucks ball pic.twitter.com/hQgr0dJgjT
"Booker comes to the ball, fires a 3.. BANG!"
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
He's got 40 for the 2nd-straight game.. @Suns down 3 with 1:09 left!#NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/XxuxbiuwTK
"MORE MIDDLETON MAGIC!"
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
Khris Middleton has 28 in the game and is 3-4 in the 4Q.. @Bucks up 6 with 1:45 left.#NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV pic.twitter.com/kYt9yNEkMj
The Bucks not letting it get away, continuing to keep some distance between them and the Suns. With 5:44 to go, Milwaukee leads 113-105.
GIANNIS. AND-1.
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
He's got 29. @Bucks up 8 with 6 minutes left.#NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/wWkTfx3l0q
A Chris Paul 3-pointer cuts the lead down to eight (108-100) with 7:48 left. It's the first time, the Suns have brought it down to single digits in the fourth quarter despite continuing to battle led by Booker.
CP3 for 3.. 8-point game!@Bucks 108@Suns 100
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
Under 8 minutes left in Game 5.. #NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/yJs46wqzR8
End of Third Quarter: Bucks 100, Suns 90
Another huge quarter from the Bucks. After scoring 21 in the first, Milwaukee have outscored Phoenix 79-53. Their Big 3 came up huge at different points of the period but there's still one period to play.
Can the Bucks stay ahead and clinch a huge Game 5 on the road?
Jrue Holiday has 25 PTS, 11 AST through 3Q.. @Bucks up 10 entering the 4Q of Game 5 on ABC.#NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV pic.twitter.com/6uygQiRqA1
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
3:09 left and the Bucks are being relentless here. After Middleton and Holiday, Antetokounmpo puts together few plays - scoring eight of 10 in one stretch as Milwaukee leads 94-83.
Giannis handles into the J.. @Bucks rolling in the 3Q on ABC!#NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV pic.twitter.com/rkZOIeZhF2
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
5:42 left and Milwaukee calls the first timeout of the second half. Bucks now lead 85-75 behind more big plays from Holiday, after Middleton was already on fire.
First Team All-Defense!! pic.twitter.com/FKCc9rF03T
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
Middleton and Booker trading buckets. After the first 4:30 minutes of the third quarter, they have combined for 19 (Middleton - 9; Booker - 10) of the 24 combined points scored by both teams.
Bucks still lead 76-73.
Devin Booker tough pull-up.. got it.
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
He's 5-5 in the 3Q 😳#NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/s0YqgNNXSR
Mr. Midrange. pic.twitter.com/mf4gks5FZP
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
Halftime: Bucks 64, Suns 61
A 43-24 second quarter helps the Bucks bounce back from a 16-point first-quarter deficit to a five-point halftime lead.
Jrue Holiday's 14 PTS (6-7 FGM) and 5 AST in the 2nd quarter help the @Bucks come back from 16 down to lead at halftime on ABC!#NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV pic.twitter.com/7DMDkhh8HQ
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
Holiday was huge in the second period with 14 of his 18 coming in the second period, despite having two fouls to his name. He also has seven assists to his name. He's gone from a 4-of-20 performance in Game 4 to shooting 8-of-11 in the first half of Game 5.
Jrue Holiday has 18 points and 7 assists so far tonight. The only other player since 1997 to have 18 & 7 in the first half of an #NBAFinals game is LeBron James pic.twitter.com/V7qPTGLHAY
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) July 18, 2021
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton combine for 21 while Milwaukee's bench duo of Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis combine for 18. For the Suns, Booker leads the scoring charts with 15.
A huge fightback from the Bucks in the second period, considering that it was on the road. They tie the game up at 42, then re-take the lead 50-49 on a Bobby Portis three.
Over the first 6:20 of the second period, Milwaukee have outscored Phoenix 29-12.
TOUGH And-1 from Bobby Portis. 😤@Bucks have stormed back to take a 50-49 lead.. #NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/HTm3zmbc7b
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
BGB.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
Bobby gets buckets!! pic.twitter.com/ZtxGPeUhBR
A quick 11-3 run to start the second period by the Bucks and it's a 40-32 game with 9:31 left in the first half. Holiday has scored (7) or assisted on nine of those 11 points.
Jrue attacks the paint. pic.twitter.com/ROneKM13O8
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
End of First Quarter: Suns 37, Bucks 21
Big first period for the hosts. The Suns are 13-0 in these playoffs whenever they lead a game by double-digits and at the end of the first 12 minutes, they hold their largest lead of 16.
The Suns shot an incredible 14-of-19 from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc while scoring 11 points on the Bucks' seven turnovers. Meanwhile, Milwaukee only shot 9-of-21 from the field in the first.
Devin Booker's 11 points highlight the @Suns HUGE first quarter!
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
They lead 37-21 in Game 5 on ABC. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/8t4VUpx4mA
The Suns have caught fire in this one including hitting 10 straight . Over a 4:30-minute stretch between Bucks timeouts, Phoenix outscores Milwaukee 18-7 to double t hem up 32-16. The trio of Crowder (8), Deandre Ayton (8) and Devin Booker (9) combine for 25 of the 34.
12-15 from the field.
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
23-7 run.
The @Suns have the building ROCKING in Game 5! #ThatsGame #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV on ABC pic.twitter.com/q2XapZoFz0
Unreal Book dunk through Giannis' contact but it didn't count 😱 pic.twitter.com/8FvnMqnwCF
— ESPN (@espn) July 18, 2021
7:33 left and the first timeout. Behind eight points from Jae Crowder, the Suns lead early 14-9.
And now the big-time DUNK from Jae Crowder! 💥
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2021
He's 3-3.. #NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/KV07qIt63f
Chris Paul seems like he's back, assisting on three of the team's first five field goals. Meanwhile, for the Bucks, the scoring is taken care of by their big 3 so far.
Coming off a 4-of-20 shooting performance in Game 4, Jrue Holiday gets things started in Game 5
Midrange Jrue gets the game started. pic.twitter.com/nOrhxkhbYU
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
Pregame
Space Jam: A New Legacy lead and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is expected in attendance for Game 5.
Should be an unchanged starting line-up for both teams. However, Giannis Antetokonumpo's brother will not be on the sidelines today due to 'health and safety protocols.
THE FIVE. pic.twitter.com/zGuUN62DIO
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 18, 2021
Game 5. Our 5. pic.twitter.com/qNm9WzidmI
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
He wasn't the only one affected by the protocols.
NBA official James Williams will serve in the role of the umpire for tonight’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals, replacing Sean Wright, who is unable to officiate due to the league’s health and safety protocols.
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) July 17, 2021
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