Chris Paul scored 32 points and handed out nine assists, while Devin Booker contributed 27 points, as the Phoenix Suns leaned on their trusted guard play to earn a 118-105 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks in Game One of the NBA Finals.
Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 19 rebounds for the Suns, who are playing in their first NBA Finals since 1993. Phoenix has never won an NBA title.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who returned from a hyperextended left knee, finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds in 35 minutes, after missing the last two games of the Eastern Conference Finals. Khris Middleton had 29 points for Milwaukee, and Brook Lopez scored 17.
Paul, who was playing in his first Finals game in his 16th NBA season, scored 10 of Phoenix's 12 points in a stretch late in the third quarter to turn a 74-62 Suns lead into an 86-68 advantage.
Paul scored 16 total points in the third, as the Suns outscored the Bucks 35-26 to take a 92-76 lead into the final period.
The Bucks cut the deficit to 101-94 on a basket by Antetokounmpo with seven minutes to go, before Booker and Paul made back-to-back baskets for the Suns. Milwaukee never got closer than nine the rest of the way.
Appearing inspired by Antetokounmpo's return, the Bucks took a 20-18 lead with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. A three-pointer by Cameron Johnson seven seconds later gave the Suns a 21-20 advantage and they never trailed again, leading 30-26 at the end of one quarter and 57-49 at halftime.
Mikal Bridges ended the night with 14 points, while Johnson and Cameron Payne had 10 each for the Suns. Phoenix starting forward Jae Crowder, the only player on either team with NBA Finals experience, scored one point and was 0-for-8 from the field.
Paul and Booker, who led the Suns in scoring during the regular season, were a combined 20 of 40 from the field and five of 15 from three-point range. The Suns shot 32.4 percent (11 of 34) from distance overall while the Bucks were at 44.4 percent (16 of 36).
Jrue Holiday compiled 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Bucks, who were just 9 of 16 on foul shots. Antetokounmpo was seven of 12 from the line.
Game Two takes place on Friday (NZ time).
Reuters.
