MANILA – A late surge from Khris Middleton helped the Milwaukee Bucks even the NBA Finals series at 2-2 via a come-from-behind 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in their Game 4 match on Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Down 95-90 with over five minutes remaining, the Bucks cruised to a 7-0 scoring blast behind Pat Connaughton and Giannis Antetokounmpo to score 97-95. However, the Suns surged anew to 99-97 on hits by Devin Booker and Jae Crowder.
Middleton bounced back for the Bucks and tied the score at 99-all with a jumper before scoring eight more points, including four free throws, as Milwaukee posted 107-101, with under a minute left.
Middleton ended the match with 40 points to go with six rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists. Brook Lopez, Jrue Holiday, and Connaughton fired 14, 13, and 11 markers, respectively, for the Bucks.
The Suns were dominant at the onset of the game behind early conversions from Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges for an 18-9 advantage before the Bucks trimmed the deficit to 23-20.
Both teams kept the match close in the second period, with the score knotted at 52-all. The Suns have a solid third quarter behind Booker as they seized an 82-76 advantage.
Phoenix went on with its onslaught to stretch the gap to 85-76 after a three-pointer by Cameron Johnson. Seeing the deficit rose, Milwaukee rallied behind Middleton and Holiday to come to within 88-90.
The Suns took the lead for the last time at 95-90, with Crowder converting three free throws and Johnson connecting two-pointers before the Bucks unloaded its finishing run to take the win.
Booker led the Suns with his 42 points, while Crowder added 15 markers and eight rebounds. Paul and Johnson contributed 10 points each.
BOX SCORE:
MILWAUKEE 109 – Middleton 40, G. Antetokounmpo 26, Lopez 14, Holiday 13, Connaughton 11, Portis 3, Teague 2, Tucker 0.
PHOENIX 103 – Booker 42, Crowder 15, Paul 10, Johnson 10, Payne 9, Bridges 7, Ayton 6, Craig 4.
BOX SCORE:
20-23, 52-52, 76-82, 109-103./PN
