MIDDLETON GETS HOT AS BUCKS TIE SERIES

He scores 40 points, 10 straight in fourth, to offset Booker’s 42

Khris Middleton’s big finish means these NBA Finals are just getting started.

Middleton scored 40 points, including 10 straight for the Milwaukee Bucks down the stretch to send them past the Phoenix Suns, 109-103 on Wednesday night to tie the series 2-2.

Middleton’s hot hand and a big block from Giannis Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks their second straight victory in the first close game of the series.

“We wanted this bad and the team showed it tonight,” Antetokounmpo said.

Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.

His streak of 40-point games ended at two but the only number that matters for the Bucks is on the series scoreboard.

Devin Booker scored 42 points for the Suns, but his foul trouble cost them a chance to build a big lead in the second half. Chris Paul struggled through a 5-for-13 night, finishing with 10 points and five turnovers.

Game 5 is Saturday night in Phoenix.

“This is a tough one but we’ve got to bounce back,” Paul said. “That’s why we fought all season to get home court.”

Middleton is an All-Star with unwavering confidence in his shot, always believing that matter how poorly he starts that he can turn things around.

He may have turned around the course of these NBA Finals.

“We know he’s going to take big shots, we know he’s going to make big shots and tonight he was incredible,”