EVEN TERMS
Middleton helps Bucks tie series
The Milwaukee Bucks are officially back in these NBA Finals.
Getting clutch defensive plays and Khris Middleton's hot shooting down the stretch, the Bucks earned a tough, 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 on Wednesday night at Fiserv Forum.
After losing the first two games on the road, the Bucks won two at home to even the series at 2-2. The Finals return to Phoenix for Game 5 at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Middleton scored 40 points, including 10 straight as the Bucks grabbed control in the closing minutes. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 26 points and 14 rebounds.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker led all scorers with 42 points.
It was a strange start for the Bucks, with the Suns knocking down midrange jumpers and racing out to a 10-4 lead.
Like in Game 3, Antetokounmpo took an early breather, with Pat Connaughton coming in for the Bucks star at the 8:29 mark. Antetokounmpo came back in 90 seconds later, but he didn't attempt a shot until dropping in
a floater in the paint just over six minutes into the game.
Milwaukee got the lead down to 2320 after the first quarter when Connaughton found Jrue Holiday with a nice wraparound pass for a layup.
Antetokounmpo looked winded after the first 12 minutes, taking a minute to stroll slowly along the scorer's table while his teammates gathered on the bench.
But Antetokounmpo seemed just fine early in the second quarter, busting out a sweet spin move for a layup and then getting wide open for a dunk that got the Bucks to within 28-26.
The Bucks tied the game at 33-33 when Middleton found a streaking Brook Lopez for a layup on a fast break with 7:14 remaining in the first half. After a timeout, Middleton gave Milwaukee the lead on a tough, up-and-under jumper.
After a 3-for-14 shooting performance in Game 3, the Booker was cooking in the first half. He reached 20 points on a midrange fadeaway that gave the Suns a 49-47 lead at the 1:45 mark.
The Bucks battled back to tie it at 5252 after Middleton found Antetokounmpo on an alley-oop. Then on the next possession, Middleton drained a three-pointer from the wing.
Booker missed a three at the buzzer. Both teams struggled from long range, combining to shoot 7 for 29 in the first half.
Middleton led the Bucks with 16 points on 7-for-15 shooting in the first half. Antetokounmpo added 12.
The Suns scored the first five points out of the locker room. Phoenix managed to grab the lead despite Chris Paul having more turnovers (three) than points (two) by the midway point of the third quarter.
The Suns' success stemmed mostly from Booker draining tough shots. The 24-year-old guard surpassed Rick Barry (518) for the most points scored by a player in his first NBA playoffs.
Middleton kept Milwaukee hanging around. He drew Booker's fourth foul at the 5:53 mark of the third, then knocked down both free throws to cut the Suns' lead to 65-62.
Connaughton gave the the Bucks the advantage at 70-69, sinking a threepointer after Antetokounmpo drew the defense and kicked out a nice pass.
The Suns immediately snatched back the lead when Cam Payne scored on a drive. Back in the game, Booker knocked down another midrange shot.
The Bucks tied the game again when Middleton made 1 of 2 free throws, but Brook Lopez tapped in the miss.
Booker, however, kept being a thorn in the Bucks' side. He forced Connaughton to switch onto him on consecutive possessions - nailing a step-back three and then drawing a shooting foul and making two free throws.
After Payne hit a three, Middleton sank one of his own. But Booker knocked down yet another midrange jumper, giving him 38 points as the Suns took an 82-76 lead into the fourth quarter.
Johnson started the final quarter by making a three-pointer, but Connaughton also hit one.
Booker was called for his fifth foul while chasing down a rebound at the 10:50 mark and he subbed out.
The Fiserv crowd was a bundle of nerves, but exploded in cheers when Antetokounmpo knocked away an inbound pass and soared for a dunk that made in 89-86 with 8:02 remaining.
The Bucks' P.J. Tucker was called for his fifth foul on a three-point attempt by Crowder, and the former Marquette star drained all three free throws to give the Suns a 93-88 lead at the 6:27 mark.
Booker checked back in 30 seconds later.
Booker looked like he could have been called for his sixth foul on a layup attempt by Holiday on a fastbreak but, when no whistle was blown, Antetokounmpo put back the rebound to close the deficit to 95-94 with 3:30 left.
Connaughton drained a three 30 seconds later, but Booker dropped a shot off the glass for a 97-97 tie.
It was then Middleton's time to shine, putting in two shots for a 101-99 lead.
Then it was the Bucks' defense turn, with Antetokounmpo blocking a dunk attempt by the Suns' Deandre Ayton, then Holiday stole the ball from Paul and and found Middleton for a twisting layup and a 103-99 lead.
Middleton added four straight free throws and Holiday added two more to ice the game.