The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns 100-94 in game six of the NBA finals to win the 2021 NBA Championship on Tuesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo once again led the team to a great game to secure the first Championship of his career.
Behind 50 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks from their superstar forward, the Bucks held off the Phoenix Suns to win the franchise’s first championship since 1971 on their home court.
They did so in front of a madhouse, sellout crowd of more than 17,000 fans inside Fiserv Forum — along with a truly remarkable 65,000 more fans assembled outside into the “Deer District” surrounding the building.
Antetokounmpo won the Bill Russell NBA Finals’ Most Valuable Player Award.
His 50 points were tied for the most all-time in a closeout game of the NBA Finals, per ESPN Stats and Information research, equaling Bob Pettit’s 50 points for the St. Louis Hawks at home in Game 6 of the 1958 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.
Giannis immediately celebrated his NBA Championship with his family following the buzzer 🥺 pic.twitter.com/ddyrXcP6pr
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 21, 2021
His free-throw shooting an albatross during the playoffs, Antetokounmpo finally made 17 of 19 from the foul line in the biggest game of his career. He posted three 40-point-plus games in the Finals.
“People told me I can’t make free throws,’’ Antetokounmpo said in the postgame press conference in which he choked up. “I made my free throws tonight and I’m a freaking champion… I wanted it so bad. If I never sit at this table again, I’m fine with it.’’
Antetokounmpo held the NBA championship trophy in his left arm and the Bill Russell MVP hardware in his right. He invoked his brother, Thanasis — his Bucks teammate who was out because of COVID-19 protocols — at the start of his press conference.
“I never thought ever I’d be 26 years old playing in the NBA Finals — not even just winning — and hold these two (trophies),’’ Antetokounmpo said.
“It’s easy to go to somewhere and win a championship somewhere else. I could to a superteam and do my part and win a championship. But this is the hard way to do it and we did it. We f—–g did it.’’
Thousands of Milwaukee Bucks fans celebrate
The moment in the Deer District when the Milwaukee #Bucks won the #NBAFinals for the first time in 50 years. 65,000 are here to witness history outside of the Fiserv Forum.
CELEBRATE, MILWAUKEE!! pic.twitter.com/IVubkZYmeC
— Kyle Malzhan (@KyleMalzhan) July 21, 2021
Game 5 of the NBA finals
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns 123-119 to take a 3-2 series lead in the NBA Finals on Saturday and they are now one win away from an NBA championship. The Greek Freak, with nine rebounds and six assists, including a game-sealing alley-oop dunk was the man of the match.
Game 4 of the NBA finals
The Milwaukee Bucks secured a second straight win over the Suns in Game 4 of the NBA finals at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday 109-103 to tie the NBA finals.
Khris Middleton who scored 40 points was the man of the match for the Bucks. An absolutely unreal performance from him down the stretch. His jumpers and and-1 were absolutely crucial for Milwaukee.
Game 3 of the NBA finals
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to an impressive win, by the score of 120-100, against the Suns in Game 3 of the NBA finals at Fiserv Forum Sunday night.
Antetokounmpo finished with 41 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes of action. It was an extremely impressive performance from the two-time MVP, but he also had his fair share of help.
Game 2 of the NBA finals
The Phoenix Suns beat the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of the NBA final last Thursday by 118-108, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo finishing with 42 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
Devin Booker was the key in Game 2 for the Suns. He finished with a team-high 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting from the field. He was 7-for-12 from three-point range. He added five rebounds and six assists to his stat line.
Game 1 of the NBA finals
A still-recovering Giannis Antetokounmpo was on the losing side of the NBA finals game 1 as the Milwaukee Bucks were defeated last Tuesday by the Phoenix Suns 105-118.
Chris Paul led the way with yet another stellar postseason outing. He scored 32 points to lead the Suns, but Devin Booker wasn’t far behind with 27 of his own.
Related video: The other Greek who won a Championship with the Bucks
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