The Milwaukee Bucks have stormed back to tie the NBA Finals, and one solitary play might have been the biggest difference. Giannis Antetokounmpo rejected Phoenix Suns big man Deandre Ayton at the rim to preserve a 2-point lead, in what might go down as an iconic moment in NBA history.
Relive the amazing play in the clip below:
GIANNIS CAME UP CLUTCH 😤
A HUGE block when it mattered pic.twitter.com/ZbyMCj8L1s
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 15, 2021
The Bucks star's mind-blowing denial caught the attention NBA stars across the league. His peers were buzzing at the big-time play that might come to define the championship.
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard deemed the block a potential game-winner, which eventually came true as the Bucks emerged victorious.
That block by Giannis might have won them the game
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) July 15, 2021
Free agent guard Spencer Dinwiddie corrected Lillard, reacting to the block and claiming that the Bucks might have to look back at the play as one of the defining moments if they pull off the comeback for the NBA championship.
The championship* https://t.co/5l9jXGZo28
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) July 15, 2021
Giannis block was crazy
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) July 15, 2021
Other stars around the league were just as shocked as we were at home while watching Giannis Antetokounmpo give his all for the Bucks on his all-heart play. Most agree that the one play could be what eventually decides the series, should Milwaukee pull it off.
Article Continues BelowThey close this series and that block is legendary! https://t.co/K6Poy5FymO
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) July 15, 2021
That block by Giannis one of the best i ever seen
— Richaun Holmes (@Rich_Holmes22) July 15, 2021
If the Bucks win that block is the play of the series
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 15, 2021
Andre Iguodala, who famously featured on the receiving end of another NBA Finals block, even compared it to LeBron James' chasedown on him from five years prior.
https://twitter.com/andre/status/1415514275645296641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1415515009774350336%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php
The Milwaukee Bucks have held serve on their home floor after falling deep into a 0-2 hole. While the supporting cast for Giannis Antetokounmpo has largely been boom or bust for him, the Bucks' franchise player has remained the one constant throughout every game of this series. Whether or not his squad pulls off the NBA Finals win, nobody can question that Giannis is a championship-caliber player.
Giannis Antetokounmpo now owns an iconic moment in NBA Finals history. All That's left is to bring the title back to Milwaukee.