Game 3: Home Cooking

Milwaukee bounced back at home in Game 3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the games best player, was the story. He poured in 41 points (on 23 FGAs) for his second consecutive game. He's only the 6th player in NBA history to have back-to-back games in the Finals. He added 13 rebounds (4 offensive) and 6 assists. Giannis was 13 for 17 from the charity stripe

The Bucks' got better production from their other two best players. Khris Middleton had a good first half and scored 18 with 7 boards and 6 assists. Jrue Holiday was even better. The defensive master we've watched all season finally resurfaced. He also added 21 points on 14 shots with 9 assists.

Holiday started out on Devin Booker and shutdown the Sins' leading scorer. Book finished with 10 points on 14 shots and he played only 29 minutes. No one tookl Bookers place for Phonix. Chris Paul was solid with 19 points and displayed his usual amazing court vision. He gave Deandre Ayton some beautiful passes in the first half. Paul had 9 assists. Ayton curiously played only 24 minutes. He scored 19 on 8 for 11 shooting.

Jae Crowder also scored 18 points. He made 6 of his 7 threes. Cam Johnson had an amazing funk on P.J. Tucker asd part of his 14 points. But Johnson was a symptom of the Suns' problem in Game 3.

The Bucks grabbed 13 offensive boards and they all seemed to lead to points. Cam Johnson is a talented young player, but perhaps he doesn't know how to box-out. Maybe he just forgot to box-out. Or maybe Phoenix has an organization aversion to boxing out, but their defensive rebounding was poor. Johnson and friends tried to meekly jump for missed shots instead of getting position. That didn't work against Giannis and a very feisty Bobby Portis.

Brook Lopez, Tucker, Portis, and Pat Connaughton all contributed to the cause. Even Giannis's big brother Thanisis even got into the act with three boards.

The Bucks won 120-100 to cut Phoenix's series lead to 2-1.