Bucks and Suns Kick Off NBA Finals
The Milwaukee Bucks take on the Phoenix Suns at Phoenix Suns Arena on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Bucks (0-0) enter their first NBA Finals since the 1973-1974 season almost certainly missing their biggest star, as Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as doubtful with the hyperextended knee he suffered in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Hawks. Milwaukee was impressively able to win both games without Antetokounmpo to close out the series, as the quartet of Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez and Antetokounmpo's direct replacement at power forward, Bobby Portis, all stepped up their contributions. The big question heading into Game 1 of the Finals is naturally whether they can repeat the feat versus a Suns team that's allowing just 106.6 points per home game (including the postseason) and that's lost only twice since Game 3 of the quarterfinal round.
Outside of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have no other injuries to report.
The Suns (0-0) have actually lost two of their last four games, since the aforementioned recent pair of defeats came against the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals. However, Phoenix checks into Game 1 as the clear-cut favorite for both Monday's contest and the series itself. While an eventual return to action by Antetokounmpo would certainly have the potential to turn that prognosis on its head, the fact is Monty Williams' squad is better rested and completely healthy heading into Tuesday night's opener. Phoenix will hope to continue getting stellar contributions from its Big Three of Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker. However, the latter needs to sharpen up his shooting after draining only 34.6 percent of his shots, including 25.0 percent from three-point range, over the last five games of the semifinal round of the Clippers.
The Suns enter Tuesday's series-opening contest without any injuries to report.
Tuesday's game marks the third meeting between the clubs since the start of the regular season. The Suns have won each of the first two games, notching a 125-124 home win Feb. 10 and a 128-127 overtime victory at Fiserv Forum on April 19.
The Bucks (0-0) enter their first NBA Finals since the 1973-1974 season almost certainly missing their biggest star, as Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as doubtful with the hyperextended knee he suffered in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Hawks. Milwaukee was impressively able to win both games without Antetokounmpo to close out the series, as the quartet of Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez and Antetokounmpo's direct replacement at power forward, Bobby Portis, all stepped up their contributions. The big question heading into Game 1 of the Finals is naturally whether they can repeat the feat versus a Suns team that's allowing just 106.6 points per home game (including the postseason) and that's lost only twice since Game 3 of the quarterfinal round.
Outside of Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have no other injuries to report.
The Suns (0-0) have actually lost two of their last four games, since the aforementioned recent pair of defeats came against the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals. However, Phoenix checks into Game 1 as the clear-cut favorite for both Monday's contest and the series itself. While an eventual return to action by Antetokounmpo would certainly have the potential to turn that prognosis on its head, the fact is Monty Williams' squad is better rested and completely healthy heading into Tuesday night's opener. Phoenix will hope to continue getting stellar contributions from its Big Three of Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker. However, the latter needs to sharpen up his shooting after draining only 34.6 percent of his shots, including 25.0 percent from three-point range, over the last five games of the semifinal round of the Clippers.
The Suns enter Tuesday's series-opening contest without any injuries to report.
Tuesday's game marks the third meeting between the clubs since the start of the regular season. The Suns have won each of the first two games, notching a 125-124 home win Feb. 10 and a 128-127 overtime victory at Fiserv Forum on April 19.