NBA Finals 2021: Giannis Antetokounmpo's 50-point masterpiece leads Bucks to championship-clinching Game 6 win

Micah Adams

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NBA Finals 2021: Giannis Antetokounmpo's 50-point masterpiece leads Bucks to championship-clinching Game 6 win image

Behind a dominant 50-point performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks survived a tough fight from the Phoenix Suns and record a 105-98 Game 6 win. 

Thus, winning their second title in franchise history and first since 1971. The Greek Freak also finished with 14 rebounds, five blocks and two assists while shooting 16-of-25 from the field and an incredible near-perfect 17-of-19 from the free-throw line. 

It was all tied up leading into the final period but Milwaukee sealed the victory by outscoring the Suns 28-21. Four other Bucks players score in double figures including 17 from Khris Middleton, 12 points and 11 assists from Jrue Holiday and 16 off the bench from Bobby Portis.

For the Suns, Chris Paul led the way with 26 points, Jae Crowder put up 15 points, 13 rebounds and four steals while Devin Booker only managed 19. Here are some key takeaways from the game at the buzzer:

Suns survive Giannis' monster 3rd quarter

The Bucks quickly took away that halftime deficit with a 16-8 start with Antetokounmpo scoring 12 of those 16 points. In fact, after having 17 at intermission, the Greek Freak exploded for 20 in the period. 

 

 

Including his lone assist from the period, he scored or assisted on 23 of the team's 35 points as the game, with huge stakes, was headed into its final quarter all tied up at 77. 

 

 

The third quarter also included essential contributions from Holiday (seven points, three assists) and Brook Lopez (six straight points).

However, the Suns withstood all of that together led by Booker's scored 11 points while Crowder chipped-in with seven points on just two plays

 

 

Phoenix punch back to lead at halftime

Just like Game 5, the team to trail after the first quarter, hits back to lead at halftime. Behind a 31-13 second quarter, including a 19-4 run which began with a 10-0 start, the Suns rebounded and took a five-point (47-42) lead at halftime. 

Chris Paul scored 10 points in the period and assisted on another five as he seemed more like himself in the second period.

 

 

Suns' reserve guard Cameron Payne was a huge part of the Suns' first half. He kept them afloat in the first quarter, scoring five late, and then he scored five of that 10-0 run to start the second quarter. For the Bucks, Antetokounmpo led the way with 17 while Bobby Portis chipped-in with 10 off the bench. 

A couple of players in Booker and Holiday found it tough to get the ball in the hoop. The Suns' guard just had four points on 2-of-8 shooting while the Bucks guard had just two on 1-of-11 shooting from the field.

Bucks take control early

From leading 6-5, Milwaukee ran away with the game for the rest of the first quarter by going on a 22-11 run. 

Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 10 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the field while Middleton had seven straight Bucks points during a stretch.

 

 

Milwaukee, with a 19-8 rebounding advantage in the first period, shot 11-of-23 from the field while holding Phoenix to 7-of-24.

They held an early 14-6 points-in-the-paint advantage as every Suns starter scored in the first quarter but struggled to knock shots down efficiently as Booker was 0-of-4 after that shot in the first minute.

Sloppy beginning

There was plenty at stake in this game and it seemed like the nerves took over in the first few minutes as both teams combined for seven turnovers before the first timeout, at the 6:51 mark in the first quarter.

Over the first 5:09 minutes, the Suns went scoreless for nearly four straight minutes but a Chris Paul 3-pointer helped them keep it close (6-5).

But before that, on the back of a few exciting plays, the mouth-watering clash got off to a great start. 

 

 

 

The Greek Freak got things rolling with some great two-way action and got the crowd rolling but Booker silenced them quickly with a mid-ranger 

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Micah Adams

Micah Adams Photo

Micah Adams is a Managing Editor and Head of Affiliate and Commercial Content at Sporting News. Prior to joining SN in 2021, Adams spent over a decade producing and leading content teams at ESPN, DAZN and The Social Institute. Adams graduated from Duke University in 2009 and remains a Cameron Crazie at heart well into his 30s. When not losing sleep or hair over the Blue Devils, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bulls, and USMNT, Adams enjoys chasing his two small children around along with his wife, losing golf balls, spending time outdoors and binging terrible movies.