In a very weird Game 2 of the 2021 NBA Finals, the Phoenix Suns came out on top once again as they won 118-108 against the Milwaukee Bucks to take a 2-0 series lead. The reason this game seemed weird was because of how it started.
The Bucks made some great adjustments offensively and defensively after Game 1’s loss on Tuesday night and they were really making Phoenix pay on the interior. Milwaukee scored 20 of their 29 first quarter points in the paint and they did not give up a single point in the paint during the first quarter.
However, Phoenix was getting their production strictly from the perimeter, as they knocked down eight total three-point shots in the first quarter of play, resulting in 24 of their 26 points in the first coming from beyond-the-arc.
If you would have told me ahead of Game 2 that the Suns would not score a single point in the paint and Milwaukee would score 20 points in the paint in the first quarter, I would assume that the Bucks are annihilating the Suns, but it was quite the opposite. Phoenix found a way to get production on the offensive-end of the court, even though the Bucks’ defense was playing really well and preventing them from attacking the lane.
As Game 2 progressed, we saw the Suns getting more and more comfortable and in a groove both offensively and defensively, while it seemed like only Giannis Antetokounmpo was playing with a sense of urgency for Milwaukee. The Suns continued to make three-point shots the rest of the game and they set a new franchise record for most three-pointers made in a postseason game.
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The Suns shot 20-40 (50%) from beyond the arc in Game 2 of the 2021 NBA Finals, which is a direct reason why they were able to win this game. Between knocking down three-point shot after three-point shot to defending at a high-level, Phoenix made all the right adjustments during the game while the Bucks coaching staff continued to stick to their game plan.
It was also very clear that the Suns wanted to win this game more than the Bucks did in the second-half. Phoenix had an answer for everything the Bucks threw at them and they had a big advantage grabbing the 50-50 balls in this game. They grabbed some offensive rebounds here and there, but the loose-ball turnovers and the long rebounds seemed to always go to the Suns, which was advantageous to them because they capitalized on almost every single second-chance opportunity or 50-50 ball they got.
While it is possible for the Bucks to come back and win this series, they have their work cut out for them now because only four teams in NBA Finals history have ever overcome an 0-2 deficit (1969 Celtics, 1977 Blazers, 2006 Heat and 2016 Cavaliers). Game 3 has suddenly become a “must-win game” for the Bucks because if they go down 0-3 in this series, then this NBA Finals series will be over.
Game 3 on Sunday night is going to be a fight for all 48-minutes and Milwaukee is going to have to give it their all because they have to win that game and pull within a game of the Suns in this series. Before this game is played though, let’s take a look at the three biggest takeaways from Game 2 and take a look at if the Bucks will be able to regroup heading home down 0-2.
