The Milwaukee Bucks will head into Game 4 of the NBA Finals brimming with confidence after a stunning performance against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. Trailing 0-2 in the series and with their season hanging in the balance, the Bucks managed to record their biggest win in 47 years with ease, thanks in large part to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is having one of the best Finals performances in the history of the NBA thus far.
What Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing in the NBA Finals is simply remarkable given the extent of his injury in the previous series against the Atlanta Hawks. Just two weeks ago, the Bucks fanbase and the entire NBA universe were shocked after the "Greek Freak" suffered what looked like a horrifying knee injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
From injury despair to Finals superstar
Some within the Bucks organization feared that Antetokounmpo tore his ACL and will be done for the rest of the season. Even Giannis himself thought the same thing after his knee doubled up in size the day after due to intense swelling. For the long-suffering Milwaukee faithful, it was another gut-wrenching blow to their championship aspirations.
Lo and behold, there came some great news for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo did hyperextend his left knee in that scary landing but no structural damage was found by doctors after doing rigorous examinations. The dream was still alive for the Bucks, who managed to win Games 5 and 6 against the Hawks without Giannis to advance to the NBA Finals.
The main question heading into this title series between the Bucks and the Suns was would Giannis play at all in the NBA Finals. The answer was a resounding yes as Antetokounmpo was inserted into Milwaukee's starting lineup for Game 1 just minutes before tip-off. He exceeded everyone's expectations in his first game back from injury, recording 20 points and 17 rebounds in his NBA Finals debut.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo putting up Shaq-like numbers in Finals
Even with a hobbled left knee, Antetokounmpo managed to level up his performance in Game 2, scoring 42 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 118-108 loss to Phoenix. Giannis was a one-man wrecking crew for the Bucks, scoring 20 of his 42 points in the third quarter as he single-handedly kept Milwaukee afloat. Unfortunately, he got no support from his teammates as the Bucks headed home with a 0-2 series deficit.
Antetokounmpo won't be denied though, as he finally gave Milwaukee its much-awaited Finals victory in Game 3. He scored 41 points, hauled down 13 rebounds, and dished out six assists in 38 minutes of action for a brilliant all-around performance. Giannis' towering display in Game 3 placed him in rarefied air as he became just the second player in the history of the Finals to record back-to-back 40-plus point and 10-plus rebound games, joining the great Shaquille O'Neal in that short list.
The scary part for Phoenix is that Giannis is slowly turning his main weakness into a strength. After shooting just 7 of 12 from the free throw line in Game 1, Antetokounmpo has managed to improve his percentages from the charity stripe. He shot 11 of 18 in Game 2 before making 13 of his 17 free throw attempts in Game 3.
That has given Giannis more confidence to attack the basket and punish the Suns' interior. He scored 28 points inside the paint in Game 3 as he drew 13 fouls from a host of Phoenix defenders. That was the key in Game 3 as Deandre Ayton was saddled with foul trouble that enabled the Bucks to pull away in the second half.
The Bucks need more of the same from Giannis in Game 4 to send this series back to Phoenix all tied at two games apiece. Wednesday can't come soon enough.
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