The NBA Finals is now a best of three after the Milwaukee Bucks stormed back late in the fourth quarter to steal Game 4 and cover every number across the board to kill the hopes and dreams of anyone with pointspread or moneyline tickets on the Phoenix Suns in their possession. In essence, it was Devin Booker versus Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton with the trio the only players that rose to the occasion for their respective teams. Milwaukee’s duo proved to be too much as the Bucks scored the 109-103 win and cover at online sportsbooks to even up the series. The home team is now a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS; is it telling that linemakers reduced the Suns number to beat back home for Game 5? Have they lost confidence? We’ll all find out this Saturday night when Giannis and company return to the desert owners of all the series momentum.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns will tip-off on Saturday, July 17, 2021 from the Phoenix Suns Arena. The game will be broadcast live on ABC at 9 p.m. ET. We'll have NBA playoff odds and player props available at BookMaker.eu for every game of the NBA Finals.
NBA Betting Lines at BookMaker.eu
Milwaukee Bucks +4
Phoenix Suns -4
O/U 218.5
Odds Analysis
After combining for 212 points Wednesday night, the total for Game 5 hit the board at 218 which amounts to being the lowest of the series. Game 1 closed 219.5. Game 2 221. Game 3 220, while Game 4 closed a half point higher at 220.5. So why the dramatic tumble? With it now a best of three, linemakers are giving off the impression that either the defenses will raise their level of intensity or the pressure of an NBA title on the line will be too tough for the offenses to overcome. Early betting disagrees with the O/U up a half tick to 218.5 an hour after Game 4 concluded. Phoenix has also taken the early money with Booker and company up to 4-point favorites. The Suns dropped three straight games only once over the course of the regular season. However, they just became the first team in NBA Finals history to shoot better than 50 percent from the field and hold their opponent to 42 percent yet still lose the game.
Milwaukee Bucks
It was another Middleton game on Hump Day night after he went for a game-high 40 points on 15-of-33 shooting. Without his scoring prowess, Milwaukee would’ve likely been dead in the water the number of times Phoenix looked like it would run away and hide. But Mike Budenholzer continued to feed him and the end result was exactly what the Bucks needed to knot the series up at two games apiece. Still, Milwaukee would’ve likely fallen if not for a number of huge defensive plays Giannis made over the course of the game; especially the fourth quarter! Can these guys continue to do it game in and game out? We’re about to find out Saturday night!
Phoenix Suns
I guess Chris Paul didn’t get the memo that he was partaking in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night with a chance to take a commanding series lead and close it out back on his home hardwood. If he did, you can’t help but think he would’ve done much more than score 10 points on 38.4 percent shooting and turn the ball over five times; his fifth and final ultimately being the deathblow to Suns backers. Same goes to Deandre Ayton. While the big man did a heck of a job cleaning the glass with a game-high 17, he was more or less invisible at the other end of the court where he tallied a mere six points. If not for Devin Booker going HAM for 42 points on 60 percent shooting, the Suns would’ve gotten their clocks cleaned.
Milwaukee vs. Phoenix Prediction
I felt going into this series that the Suns were the better overall team. Having taken in the last four games, I’m not so sure anymore. Phoenix was very impressive in the series opener, but that game had Giannis attempting to get his sea legs back. While the Suns also took Game 2, it only ran away with the win and cover late. Game 3, the Suns got their doors blown off and then most recently Milwaukee survived Booker’s explosion by hanging around and striking when it mattered most. All too often, Phoenix’s superstar nucleus has disappeared over the course of this series. The same can’t be said of Milwaukee’s dynamic duo. I’m starting to believe CP3 just isn’t going to win a title. Giannis is the best player on the court, and he’s going to find a way to lead his team to the title. Back the Bucks in Game 5 and also look for points to hit the board. Or do the exact opposite and cash a two-team parlay since I haven’t been able to pick my nose this series!
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