Milwaukee Bucks Win Their First NBA Title Since 1971

Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo. Photo by Jevone Moore/Cal Sport Media/CSM/REX/Shutterstock

50 years after winning their first NBA title, the Milwaukee Bucks are NBA Champions once again. The Bucks secured the Larry O’Brien trophy on Tuesday night with a memorable 105-98 Game 6 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Milwaukee’s journey to the NBA title wasn’t an easy one. They had to overcome a 0-2 deficit against the Brooklyn Nets in the East semis even to get a chance to play in the NBA Finals. Then, they found themselves in the same situation versus the Suns. At that point, Phoenix was an overwhelming favorite to win it all, but the Bucks were not willing to give up.

The Bucks tightened their defense, made the necessary adjustments, and banged out two wins at their home arena to even the series. This momentum carried Milwaukee to a Game 5 win in Phoenix and allowed them to get the job done in front of their fans.

The Milwaukee Bucks became the fifth team in NBA history to erase a 0-2 deficit and win the title.

The Bucks closed out the series thanks to an epic performance by their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who dropped 50 points and 14 boards en route to winning the NBA Finals MVP award. All-Star Kris Middleton added 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while forward Bobby Portis had a strong contribution from the bench with 16 points.

“For the city, I’m sure it means everything,” said Middleton. “They’ve seen the work that we put in over the years for them to get to this point.”

All-Star point guard Chris Paul had 26 points for the Phoenix Suns but didn’t get much help from his teammates. Devin Booker turned the ball over six times and managed 19 points, well below his average in the series, while DeAndre Ayton finished the contest with 12 points and just six boards.

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