The Phoenix Suns have taken an early 1-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks. Chris Paul dominated in his first-ever NBA Finals appearance, finishing with 32 points and 9 assists. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo looked as healthy as ever, racking up 20 points and 17 rebounds. The scoring was plentiful in Game 1, and it should be relatively the same on Thursday night. Phoenix hopes to take a 2-0 series lead, but if the Bucks can secure a victory in Game 2, the homecourt advantage shifts in their favor.
To prevent that, the Suns will have to do much of the same. The backcourt play was phenomenal, but Deandre Ayton proved to be the X-Factor Phoenix needed to compete with Milwaukee. Ayton totaled 22 points and 19 rebounds, locking down the paint for the Suns. He took away Milwaukee's advantage, equalizing the matchup in favor of his team.
The Bucks are likely to make some adjustments. They kept fouling Phoenix who dominated the free-throw line. To get back on track, Milwaukee must foul the Suns less often, which is a task much easier said than done. The Bucks should plan to feed Giannis as much as possible, as reclaiming the paint has to be a priority. With that said, here are three bold predictions for the Bucks-Suns Game 2 matchup of the 2021 NBA Finals.
Suns dominate the free-throw line again
Phoenix went 25/26 (96.2%) from the free-throw line on Tuesday night, giving them a massive advantage. In comparison to their competitor, the Bucks went 9/16 (56.3%) from the line. The Suns had a +16 point advantage in free-throw shooting, which played a factor in the Bucks' struggle to keep up.
The Bucks' aren't the most efficient free-throw shooting team, while Phoenix knocks it down consistently. After having a ton of success in Game 1, expect the Suns to come out aggressive in Game 2 and try to get to the free-throw line as much as possible. They'll likely go right at Antetokounmpo, as putting him in foul trouble increases the Suns' chances of winning.
Giannis erupts for 45+ points and 25+ rebounds
He was impressive in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, especially since coming back from an injury scare. However, the Bucks need him to go ballistic if they hope to steal a win in Game 2. If The Greek Freak can go off for 45 points and 25 rebounds, the Bucks re-take over the paint, giving them the advantage once again.
Look for Milwaukee to feed their superstar power forward on Thursday night. His success dictates how the Bucks will do in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Khris Middleton will likely get his shots, but the Bucks have to rely on Giannis if they want to win this championship. It won't be easy for Antetokounmpo though, as he'll be battling it out with Deandre Ayton throughout the evening. Game 2 could be full of old-school, physical basketball.
Bucks tie the NBA Finals up 1-1
The Suns are the slight favorite as they're the home team, but the Bucks have a chance to tie the series up on Thursday night. They played relatively well in Game 1, but focusing on scoring in the paint could be the ultimate equalizer. Giannis could prove to be too much to handle while Middleton lights it up from the perimeter. If that's the case, Milwaukee could even the series and takeover homecourt advantage for the remainder of the 2021 NBA Finals.
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