Game Four: Back and Fo(u)rth

The Milwaukee Bucks headed home down two games in the NBA Finals, and they needed to bounce back to make it a true series. They got off to a good start with their 120-100 Game Three victory, but they still needed to take Game Four; though the Phoenix Suns did not make it easy for them. This game was very close throughout; in fact, at halftime, it was all even at 52. The Suns took over the third period, leading to a six point lead entering the fourth and final quarter. It looked like the Bucks were in trouble and on their way to facing elimination heading to Phoenix.

However, a funny thing happened. The Suns suddenly went cold. The Bucks were making everything in the final 12 minutes. Even though it seemed like the Bucks were trying to hand the game to the Suns, Phoenix just wouldn't take it. The Suns got in their own way too much in that fourth quarter, and instead of a potential 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals for Phoenix, the Bucks ended up winning 109-103 and it's now a 2-2 Finals for Giannis and Company.

Even though I just called the Bucks, "Giannis and Company," it was Khris Middleton who led the way for Milwaukee, scoring 40 points and going 3/8 from behind the three-point line. As for the Greek Freak, he was two assists short of a triple-double: 26 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists. As for the Suns, Devin Booker rebounded from his terrible Game Three with a monster Game Four: 42 points from Phoenix's young star. Jae Crowder scored 15 points, but missed six three-pointers, and as for Chris Paul, he only scored 10 points, but ended up with five turnovers. Deandre Ayton only scored six points, but had 17 rebounds.

For the Bucks, it's mission accomplished. They needed to take their home games, and they did just that. It would have been disastrous for the Bucks had they lost even one of those games, and it was almost fatal for them entering the fourth quarter, but the Bucks came back and stole it from the Suns, resulting in a dead even series. As a result, the Bucks have earned one final home game, coming up on Tuesday. But that's Tuesday. That's Game Six. What the Bucks need to be concerned with is Game Five.

Game Five is Saturday in Phoenix. So far, the Suns haven't lost at home in this series. That's a tough task for both teams, if you think about it. The Suns are coming off two devastating losses, and if you watched Devin Booker walk off after the game, you saw that he was not a happy camper. He's angry. When good players like that get angry, they go off and have loaded games. And he actually had such a game in Game Four. Booker will be determined to repeat his performance. He will need to. Because if he doesn't, it may not end well for the Suns.

As for the Bucks, again, they have earned one final home game, but to make sure that game is a potential championship clincher, they need to steal Game Five. They cannot be in a back and forth battle; they need to dominate on Saturday. If they don't, it won't be good for the Bucks, and they'll need that home game to stay alive and force a final trip to Phoenix. Saturday will be very pivotal.

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