NBA: Milwaukee Bucks in the final for the first time since 1974, now it’s against Phoenix Suns

The Milwaukee Bucks are in the finals of the North American professional basketball league NBA for the first time in 47 years. Without the still injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the team from Wisconsin won the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday with 118: 107, the Bucks decided the best-of-seven series of the playoff semifinals with 4: 2 for themselves. From Tuesday, the championship will be played in a maximum of seven games against the Phoenix Suns.

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It is unclear whether both teams can compete with the best line-up. In particular, the use of the two-time MVP Antetokounmpo on the part of the Bucks is questionable because of a knee injury, at least for the start. The Greek missed the second game in a row.

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As in game five, Bucks guard Jrue Holiday in particular helped to replace the Greeks – with 27 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, he barely missed a triple-double. The Bucks’ best thrower was Khris Middleton with 32 points. Cam Reddish (21 points) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (20) were the most successful on the Hawks’ side, and the team has been waiting for their first finals since moving to Atlanta in 1968.

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“Everyone dreamed of the Finals as a little kid, that’s crazy,” said Holiday. Milwaukee’s coach Mike Budenholzer spoke of a deserved success: “These guys have worked for it all year, it’s a sweet day. And now there is more work waiting for us. “

The Bucks won the title once when they beat the Baltimore Bullets in 1971. Three years later there was a 3: 4 against the Celtics after seven games in the last series of finals so far.

Phoenix has been in the final since Wednesday, the Suns prevailed 4-2 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Reaching the NBA finals is also a rarity for the Arizona franchise led by Chris Paul. The Suns have only been there twice, losing to the Boston Celtics in 1976 and most recently to the Chicago Bulls in 1993.

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Phoenix initially has a home advantage in the series and would also host a fifth or seventh game. The two encounters in the main round were decided by the Suns each one point ahead.

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