Phoenix Suns vs Milwaukee Bucks Game 3 NBA Finals Prediction

The Phoenix Suns currently have a 2-0 lead in the 2021 NBA Finals over the Milwaukee Bucks, thanks to two resounding home victories.

The Suns pulled away in the second quarter of Game 2, as they were ultimately able to hold off the Bucks pretty easily despite Milwaukee making some deep runs at certain points in the second half.

Devin Booker and Chris Paul predictably carried their weight for Phoenix, but Mikal Bridges really broke out in this one, as the talented young forward finished with 27 points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 42 points, but the Bucks didn’t get enough offense from any of their other guys.

Despite the Bucks being down 2-0, they’re far from out of this series, as the Finals shifts back to Milwaukee for two games before a potential Game 5.

The Milwaukee Bucks, who are favored -4 heading into Game 3, will have a chance to protect home court, as they’ve only lost one home game all postseason long. We’ve seen Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Jrue Holiday all put up excellent performances in front of their home fans, and Antetokounmpo should have extra motivation to put on for the city that has come to embrace him.

The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, may not have the same energy coming into a different environment, as they’ve thrived on ball movement and getting easy looks in the mid-range in the first two games of this series. A different environment could very well make things more difficult for them, so it’ll be up to them to replicate the same energy and stick to their game plan.

The Bucks should expect a bounceback game from Middleton in this one, as he’s proven time and time again that he can be an absolute nightmare to guard when he gets going. If you switch a smaller defender onto him, he can back them down and hit the turnaround fadeaway jumper with ease. He can also shoot the lights out from three. If he attracts a double team, which he will on many occasions throughout the night, then he has proven he can get his other teammates involved as well.

Lopez could very well be in for a huge night as well, as long as they maximize his touches with Deandre Ayton out of position. Lopez can use his sweet feathery touch around the rim and extend out to the 3-point line at any given moment.

Defensively, Holiday and PJ Tucker could feed off the energy of their home crowd and get under the skin of Paul and Booker, as Tucker proved he could slow down Kevin Durant at certain times in their recent series win against the Brooklyn Nets. The Bucks will also need to keep Lopez off on Paul and Booker as much as possible on switches in the mid-range.

The Bucks proved they know how to figure out this Suns team, but they just run out of gas once the Suns get rolling again. Being home will give them a chance to set the tempo early and dictate the pace of play.

I expect Milwaukee to win this one at home.