TOPS
Holiday at the rendezvous
If the “Big Three” of the Bucks shone (see elsewhere), Jrue Holiday was THE big guy of Game 5 of the NBA Finals, won by Milwaukee in Phoenix last night (119-123). 27 points at 12/20 on shots, including 3/6 from distance, 13 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block, 2 loss of ball. But this line of XXL statistics doesn't tell the whole story. It was he who took his team on his back in the second quarter, when Phoenix was off for a fitness walk. And there is his defense. On Chris Paul, but not only. Holiday weighed down with all his weight with his profusion of energy. His interception in the hands of Devin Booker with 16''7 to go, before sending Giannis Antetokounmpo into orbit? The action of the match.
Milwaukee's 'Big Three' travels premiere
For the first time in the series, all three of Milwaukee's stars were on top at the same time. And under these conditions, it becomes complicated for the Suns… They finished with 88 points, 32 for the “Greek Freak”, 29 signed Khris Middleton (who rose in temperature over the meeting) and therefore 27 for the MVP of evening, Holiday. By attracting the latter at the start of the season, in a trade in which many felt the price was too high, the Bucks aimed to mount a "Big Three" to aim for the stars. Last night, at the most pivotal moment in this series, the Wisconsin cadors led the way. When the two teams are tied 2-2 in the Finals, the one that wins Game 5 is sacred 72% of the time.
Devin Booker on the move
For the second time in a row, Devin Booker finished with 40 points.
17/33 on shots for the back of Phoenix, who has long held his team at arm's length, before being joined by DeAndre Ayton (20 pts, 10 rbs) and especially Chris Paul (21 pts, 11 pds) in the "money-time" to try to snatch victory.
Second game in a row at 40 points or more, but second loss in a row for the Suns.
The third in fact, and the Arizona club are now down 3-2 before Game 5 on Tuesday in Milwaukee.
The last.
Either way, the Bucks will have a title ball to play in front of their supporters.
An exciting match, one more
Phoenix-Milwaukee, it was perhaps not the poster that everyone was waiting for. Not the most glamorous nor the most exciting on paper. In the end, it is clear that the two teams delight us. Like this stunning match 5. The Suns demonstrated at the start, before the terrible response from Bucks who still pressed the accelerator at the end of the third quarter. All before the comeback of Phoenix, who came back to -1 in the last minute. And this decisive defensive action by Jrue Holiday, the alley-oop for Giannis Antetokounmpo (see above). Without forgetting the exploits of Khris Middleton, those of Devin Booker, Chris Paul who left his box in the last minutes. Suspense, spectacle, great individual performances… We can't ask for much more.In fact, we want more.
FLOPS
The Suns at a standstill, in every sense of the word
There's no point in running, you have to start on time. To think about for the Suns, authors of an exceptional first quarter, but who lost the thread and took the broth in the following two, conceding 79 points, including 43 in the second. We no longer recognized Phoenix, with too much play in isolation and not enough movement of the ball. Fortunately, Booker was (again) having a great night. But against this Milwaukee team, with the three stars at the rendezvous and 50% of skill beyond the arc of a circle (14/28), this is not enough. Monty Williams' players got their game back at the end, but it was, unfortunately for them, too late. No doubt the coach of the Arizona club will find fault after this match, but we can imagine his dismay when hewill find that his players have returned nearly 70% of their winning shots (13/19, 68.4%) and held up to Milwaukee in all statistical categories, with a player at 40 points.
Milwaukee throws
It's ultimately inconsequential, but the Bucks only landed 52.9% of their free throws, or 9/17. And it could have been expensive, like this 0/2 Giannis Antetokounmpo approaching the last minute, 117-120, before a basket from Chris Paul (119-120). The "Greek Freak" missed another after his famous "alley-oop", 13''5 from the final buzzer (119-122), but made up for it by taking the offensive rebound before a foul on Khris Middleton, who ... also missed one (119-123). Note that Antetokounmpo was beyond 50% in this exercise since the start of the NBA Finals. He only landed 4 of his 11 penalty shots this time around, catching up with the countdown that Phoenix fans go through every time he goes on the line. Tuesday, at the Fiserv Forum, there will be no entitlement.