How NBA Finals script flipped?

MILWAUKEE — The Phoenix Suns took control of the NBA Finals by surging ahead in the final five minutes of the first half of Games 1 and 2 at home. On Sunday night, the Milwaukee Bucks began to climb back into the best-of-seven affair by giving the Suns a taste of their own medicine in Game 3.

“We just had to play better defense, that’s all. Play better defense and rebound the ball better and open and run. Create driving lanes,” said Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was utterly dominant for a second straight game, finishing with 41 points.

Since falling behind 2-0 Thursday night in Phoenix, the Bucks had spent the previous three days looking and sounding as relaxed as any group could be in that position. They pointed to their surviving the same situation down 2-0 against the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

The Bucks carried forward the formula that had defined the opening two games of this series — only in reverse. In Game 1, the score was tied at the five-minute mark, only for the Suns to close the first half with a 12-4 run and take a lead they would never relinquish. It was a similar story in Game 2, when Phoenix went from being tied at 41 with 4:53 to go in the second quarter to leading 56-45 at the break thanks to a 15-4 run to close the first half. In both games in Phoenix, the Bucks never got back in front, spending the entire second half clawing their way back in to no avail. The Suns wound up doing the same in Game 3.

Now the focus shifts to Wednesday, when the Bucks will hope to get another win and turn the Finals into a best-of-three showdown for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.