The first game of the NBA Finals started out close, but eventually turned into a one-sided affair. The Phoenix Suns thoroughly dominated the Milwaukee Bucks in the second half. They took a double-digit lead and never looked back.

Most of the team stats were pretty much identical, save for one key area that the Bucks got demolished in: free throws. The Suns scored 16 more points from the line than the Bucks did, which was even greater than the 13 point deficit they won by. While part of that was because Milwaukee missed a ton of them and Phoenix made all but one of theirs, the number of attempts was also staggering. The Bucks went 9-for-16 from the stripe while the Suns went a stellar 25-of-26.

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It's significant because the Bucks were actually the best team in the entire NBA at not sending opposing teams to the free throw line during the regular season. That stat has held through in the playoffs as well. Coach Mike Budenholzer was asked about the free throw disparity during the postgame presser, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps . “You trying to bait me?” was hilariously Coach Bud's first cheeky reaction before getting serious with the question.

“No, I mean, it's a huge part of the game. They had 25 points from the free throw line. We're a team that prides ourselves in defending and being able to be good defensively without fouling.

“I can't remember the last time a team got 25 free throws in a game against the Bucks. And then conversely, the way Giannis [Antetokounmpo] attacks, the way Khris [Middleton] attacks, as many opportunities as Khris has with the ball…it's frustrating, but it's part of the sport. It's part of the game.

The free throw difference was indeed glaring. But at the end of the day, the Suns just really outplayed the Bucks on their home floor. That's a huge credit to them. Both teams just have to make the right adjustments to come out on top in Game 2.