Milwaukee Bucks: Grades from rousing Game 5 victory over Phoenix Suns
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks have taken a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals following a thrilling Game 5 with the Phoenix Suns last night.
Phoenix would look in control right from the jump after claiming a double-digit lead early, being up by 16 after the first quarter. Still, despite that massive difference, this ever-persistent Milwaukee team would come roaring back and take a double-digit lead of their own. Although things got far too close for comfort down the stretch, the Bucks would ultimately come out on top after getting the 123-119 victory on the road.
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It was certainly a memorable contest that came down to the wire and saw the Bucks assertively fight their way back into things before finally earning a victory in Phoenix for the first time this season.
Several individual performances stuck out from the win, but this was a team effort without question. Still, grades must be given for this thrilling Game 5 matchup, and here they are for both team’s efforts last night.
How did the second unit perform for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 win vs. Phoenix Suns?
SG. Milwaukee Bucks. PAT CONNAUGHTON. A+. This performance from Pat Connaughton deserves a standing ovation, to say the least. The guard has been stellar all throughout the series, but his best effort might have been in Game 5, notably scoring 14 points off the bench. Hitting four triples in six attempts, Connaughton had the hot hand as no other Buck hit more triples than him. They trusted him to hit the big shots, and he undeniably delivered on multiple occasions when they needed him the most. In addition to his 3-point barrage, Connaughton would haul in six rebounds to give the Bucks a much-needed lift on the glass. To cap off his fantastic performance, the swingman would finish with zero turnovers and zero personal fouls, signaling only further how well he played on both ends of the floor.
Milwaukee Bucks. BOBBY PORTIS. A-. While Connaughton stole the show, Bobby Portis was no slouch off the bench either in last night’s Game 5. The big man would score nine points by knocking down two triples and converting on a 3-point play after a tough finish inside that saw him erupt with energy. He would gather one of his three offensive rebounds on that possession, working close to the hoop to create more opportunities for his teammates. Portis would also have active hands defensively as he snatched two steals to help keep the ball rolling. It might have been a dominant stat-stuffing performance from Portis, but he undoubtedly made the most of his 19 minutes played by providing scoring and his consistent energetic presence to jolt some energy into this team.. C
D. With Jrue Holiday in early foul trouble, Jeff Teague stepped in and provided the Bucks with some minutes running the point. Playing seven-and-a-half minutes total, Teague was all over the place as he would miss his lone shot attempt from the floor while tallying a rebound, an assist, a steal while logging a personal foul and turnover apiece. There was not much to take from Teague’s performance as his minutes were cut short by a returning Holiday. Yet, Teague would finish with a team-low -11 in his limited minutes, certainly not helping the Bucks dig themselves out of that early hole to any degree.. PG. Milwaukee Bucks. JEFF TEAGUE