After losing the opening two matches of the series, Milwaukee Bucks have fought back to take a 3-2 lead over the Phoenix Suns and are now just one win away from claiming the NBA title.
Earlier this month at the start of the series, we suggested the value was with the Eastern Conference winners, with the Bucks 6/4 at the time to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
After a Giannis-inspired comeback, Milwaukee are very close to clinching their first NBA title in 50 years and could seal the deal in front of their home fans.
The Bucks are now 4/17 to win the series, with the Suns available to back at 33/10.
Fully-fit Greek ace the key
When tipping Milwaukee to win the title, it was with the proviso that Giannis Antetokounmpo was fit and firing on all cylinders….that is now definitely the case.
There were concerns at the end of last month that the ‘Greek Freak’ could miss the finals after hyperextending his knee in the Eastern Finals against Atlanta Hawks.
Although Giannis featured in Game 1, he didn’t look himself in a 118-105 defeat and many questioned whether he could have a positive impact on the final.
But in defeat, 42 points and 12 rebounds in Game 2 proved his was back and since then he’s scored 99 points in the last three games to put the Bucks in pole position to claim the series win. The five-time NBA All Star is 10/11 to score over 32.5 points on Wednesday.
The stats suggest home court advantage could play a massive role as well, with the Bucks winning 17 of their last 18 matches at the Fiserv Forum.
Suns running out of power
It’s been a brilliant season for the Suns, but they look to be running out of steam at this crucial stage and look set to fall short.
Phoenix, who have never claimed the NBA title, have scored 120+ points in just one of their last 10 matches and it looks a big ask for them to turn around this best-seven-series.
Monty Williams’ men are 5/6 to score 108.5+ in Game Six.
Devin Booker still looks their danger man, racking up 40+ points in the last two matches and is 6/1 to score 40+ points in this latest clash.
But nobody else in a Phoenix uniform has scored over 19 points in the last two meetings at the Fiserv Forum and that is a major concern.
The one thing to give the Suns hope is that if they can win on Wednesday, then the decisive Game 7 takes place in Arizona.
The visitors are 33/20 to keep the series alive, while the Bucks are 20/43 to win and seal the title in front of their home crowd.
*All odds correct at time of writing