The NBA final series lead hung in the balance as the Milwaukee Bucks met up with the Phoenix Suns in Arizona for game five of the series on Saturday evening. The Bucks took game five, 123-119, and a 3-2 series lead. The Suns looked poised to run away with the game from the start, leading 37-21 after one quarter. The Bucks wouldn’t go away, erasing the gap by halftime. The game headed into the break with the Bucks up 64-61 after scoring 43 second quarter points, including 14 from Jrue Holiday.
The Bucks grabbed their first double-digit lead midway through the third quarter, going up 85-75. The Bucks led by as much as thirteen in the quarter and at the end of it, Milwaukee led 100-90. In the fourth quarter, the Bucks saw their double-digit lead nearly overcome by the Suns, but a steal with under thirty seconds left by Jrue Holiday sealed the Bucks fate, and put them a game from being finals champions.
The Bucks big three led the way, as Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points, Khris Middleton had 29, and Jrue Holiday had 27 points and 13 assists. Pat Connaughton shot 4-6 from three-point range and had 14 points. The Suns got a valiant effort out of Devin Booker, who had 40 points.
The Bucks have a chance to hoist the Larry O’Brien with a game six win on Tuesday. The game will be held at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee at 8:00 PM. It would be the first time since 1971 that the Bucks won a finals.
