Giannis blocks Ayton down the stretch as Bucks tie NBA Finals
Jul 14, 2021, 10:24 PM | Updated: Jul 15, 2021, 7:58 am
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks blocks a shot by Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half in Game Four of the NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum on July 14, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks came down to the wire as the Bucks would go on to pull out a victory to even the series at 2-2 on Wednesday, 109-103.
In the fourth quarter, Suns shooting guard Devin Booker sank an 8-foot jumpshot to tie the game at 97 apiece with just under three minutes to play.
After that possession, both teams were trading baskets in the final moments of the game.
With 1:28 left in Game 4, Bucks wingman Khris Middleton drained a pull-up jumper to give Milwaukee a two-point lead, 101-99.
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On the Suns’ ensuing play, Booker received the ball at the top of the key and drove down the lane as he attempted to throw an alley-oop to center Deandre Ayton.
However, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo managed to block the potential Ayton alley-oop that would have tied the game at 101.
CLUTCH BLOCK BY GIANNIS 😱 pic.twitter.com/jwB0b75o65
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 15, 2021
“I thought I was going to get dunked on, to be honest with you,” Antetokounmpo said reflecting on the defensive play against Ayton.
“I saw that Chris was going to throw the lob and I was just going to jump vertical toward the rim. Hopefully I can be there in time, and I was there in time and was able to get a good block and go down and get two points.”
After the block by Antetokounmpo, the momentum seemed to have shifted in Milwaukee’s favor.
Bucks forward P.J. Tucker would go on to get the defensive rebound. On the Suns’ next play, Chris Paul lost control of the basketball and turned it over.
After the Bucks regained possession of the ball, they would go on to score on the next two consecutive plays and win a crucial Game 4.
Game 5 of the Finals tips off at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Phoenix Suns Arena.
Catch all the NBA Finals action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
