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NBA: Bucks overcome Suns to tie Finals series

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Agence France-Presse 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/07/15/bucks-suns.jpg"/><figcaption>Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the fourth quarter during game four of the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum. <em>Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MILWAUKEE -- <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> Khris Middleton scored 40 points, 10 of them in the final crucial minutes, and the Milwaukee Bucks rallied past Phoenix 109-103 on Wednesday to pull level in the NBA Finals.</p><p>Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo added 26 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks, who improved to an NBA-best 9-1 at home in the playoffs.</p><p>Milwaukee equalized at 2-2 in the best-of-seven championship series with game five Saturday in Phoenix and game six Tuesday at Milwaukee.</p><p>&quot;The only way we&#x27;re going to win this series is to get one on the road,&quot; said Middleton. &quot;It would be nice to get this next one.&quot;</p><p>The Bucks seek their first crown since 1971 while the Suns seek the first title in the club&#x27;s 53-year history.</p><p>Phoenix&#x27;s Devin Booker, coming off a playoffs-worst 10-point performance in a game three loss, scored 42 points in a losing cause. The Suns made 17 turnovers to five for the Bucks.</p><p>&quot;He could have gone for 50-plus,&quot; Suns coach Monty Williams said. &quot;We managed it well. A lot of our problems were self-inflicted. As a team we&#x27;ve got to take better care of the ball.&quot;</p><div><strong>HIGHLIGHTS:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a_39qOCpDco?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Jae Crowder made two free throws to put the Suns ahead but Middleton answered with back-to-back jumpers to put the Bucks ahead 101-99.</p><p>Phoenix&#x27;s Chris Paul made his fourth turnover of the game and Middleton finished a fast break with a layup to give the Bucks a 103-99 edge with 27.2 seconds remaining.</p><p>Middleton added four late free throws to seal the triumph.</p><p>&quot;We just stayed with it, doing what we do,&quot; Middleton said. &quot;I hit some tough shots against a tight defense.&quot;</p><p>Antetokounmpo made key defensive plays late to disrupt the Suns and help spark a 15-0 fast break edge for the Bucks.</p><p>&quot;Giannis, that&#x27;s what he has been doing all year. He&#x27;s amazing,&quot; said Middleton. &quot;He didn&#x27;t have the dominant performance, but he did it with other things.&quot;</p><p>Phoenix guard Paul, a 16-year veteran in his first NBA Finals at age 36, managed only 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting.</p><p>Only Stephen Curry with 40 points had scored more in the first three quarters of a finals game in the past 25 years than Booker&#x27;s 38.</p><p>But Booker picked up his fifth foul only 70 seconds into the fourth quarter and went to the bench with the Suns ahead 85-79.</p><p>With the Suns clinging to a 95-92 lead, Jrue Holiday drove for a breakaway and appeared to be fouled by Booker -- which would have seen the Suns star fouled out of the game with six.</p><p>Instead, referees made no call and it took Antetokounmpo&#x27;s grabbing the ball and making a layup to lift the Bucks within 95-94 with 3:33 remaining.</p><p>Milwaukee&#x27;s Pat Connaughton sank a 3-pointer to put the Bucks ahead but Booker answered with a jumper to level the contest at 97-97 with 2:52 to play, setting up the final drama.</p><p>Booker scored 20 in the first half to pull the Suns level with the Bucks at 52-52 at halftime, then added 18 in a 7-for-7 shooting performance in the third quarter despite picking up his fourth foul.</p><p>Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson, who sparked Milwaukee&#x27;s championship run half a century ago, were among more than 16,000 fans in attendance.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1705636" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p><strong>(UPDATED)</strong> Khris Middleton scored 40 points, 10 of them in the final crucial minutes, and the Milwaukee Bucks rallied past Phoenix 109-103 on Wednesday to pull level in the NBA Finals.</p>

(UPDATED) Khris Middleton scored 40 points, 10 of them in the final crucial minutes, and the Milwaukee Bucks rallied past Phoenix 109-103 on Wednesday to pull level in the NBA Finals.