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Sorry Suns fans, but Scott Foster is working tonight's game as a referee, and Chris Paul has lost his last 12 playoff games with Foster on the court. I also think Paul is worn down at age 36 and with Jrue Holiday hounding him all over the court. I'd like to see a Game 7 Thursday and the Suns probably could have/should have won the past two games, but their offensive efficiency numbers overall have been way down on the road this postseason. If they can't beat the Bucks when Devin Booker is scoring 40 points in a game, well, they can't beat the Bucks unless Giannis gets hurt. The past two times in the Finals a team lost the first two games and then won the next three ... it also won Game 6.
For the first time in the series, we had a game decided by fewer than six points when the Bucks pulled off a four-point win in Game 5. The Suns looked like they were going to roll early, but they blew their 16-point lead by the half. Now they have the unenviable task of trying to stay alive on the road. Noteworthy for this game is that Scott Foster will be a part of the officiating crew. Chris Paul is 0-12 in his last 12 playoff games that Foster has been a referee in. While I’d feel better if this line was set at 4.5 points, I’ll still take the Bucks to cover.
The Bucks will aim to be the first team since the 2006 Miami Heat to go down 0-2 in the NBA Finals and win the next four games. The rising play of Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to go to new heights. Expect the Suns' letdown over Game 4’s final 90 seconds and squandering of a 16-point, first-quarter lead in Game 5 to haunt them. Look for Milwaukee to close out the NBA season with a championship.
The last two outcomes were the most improbable I’ve ever seen, as the Suns shot over 50 percent from the field in both and lost. The Game 5 loss was one for the ages as the Suns shot 55 percent from the field, 68 percent from 3-point range and had only eight turnovers. I like the Suns to keep shooting well and win Game 6 outright.
I'm 3-2 in this series with the Suns letting me down the past two games, both heartbreaking losses. Phoenix easily could have won Games 4 or 5 -- and should have covered Game 4 -- so I'm going to take the points and expect a third straight nailbiter. Milwaukee deserves to be in this close-out position, thanks to the Big Three's all-around brilliance. But I'll bet against Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton going 6 of 10 from deep again.