PHOENIX SUNS

Suns cool off after hot early start in Game 5 of NBA Finals vs. Bucks

Jul 17, 2021, 7:16 PM | Updated: 7:19 pm

Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns brings the ball up court against Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwauke...

Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns brings the ball up court against Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half in Game Five of the NBA Finals at Footprint Center on July 17, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns wasted no time getting out to a hot start in Saturday’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks at the newly renamed Footprint Center.

The Suns scored 37 in the first quarter to take a 16-point lead into the second quarter.

However, the Bucks roared back in the second period and turned the double-digit deficit into multiple one-point leads.

Milwaukee took a 64-61 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Phoenix managed to have three players in double figures for scoring after it took until the fourth quarter of Game 4 for the Suns to have someone other than Devin Booker reach the 10-point mark.

Booker led the way with 15 points on 6-of-13 (46.2%) shooting from the field and 1-for-2 from deep.

As a team, Phoenix shot 51.1% from the field and 58.3% from three-point range.

Jae Crowder led the Suns from beyond the arc after going 2-for-4 in the first half.

Milwaukee matched Phoenix from a shooting perspective, as the Bucks were 57.8% from the field and 52.9% from deep.

Bucks guard Jrue Holiday led the team with 18 points, while forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had 12 points.

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