Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Prediction, Odds, Schedule For 2021 NBA Finals

The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks will battle for the championship in a 2021 NBA Finals matchup that few saw coming. Injuries have been the story of the playoffs, and it’s why Phoenix is the clear favorite to win the title.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status for the series remains up in the air. Antetokounmpo is listed as day-to-day after hyperextending his left knee in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The injury was bad enough that Antetokounmpo missed both Game 5 and Game 6, which Milwaukee managed to win without its superstar and eliminate the Atlanta Hawks.

It was reported that Antetokounmpo might’ve been cleared to play Game 7 if the conference finals went the distance.

The Suns have somewhere between -180 and -190 odds to win the NBA Finals, depending on the sportsbook. The Bucks are anywhere from a +150 to a +165 underdog in light of Antetokounmpo’s injury.

With Antetokounmpo healthy, this is anyone’s series. If the two-time MVP is going to miss most of the NBA Finals, Milwaukee has little chance.

There’s no doubt that the Suns have benefited from opposing teams’ injuries throughout the postseason, but Phoenix was extremely impressive in its run through the Western Conference. The Suns dominated LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers once Anthony Davis got hurt. Phoenix swept MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. In the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Suns showed just how many ways they can defeat their opponent.

Devin Booker was Phoenix’s leading scorer and had a 40-point triple-double in Game 1. Deandre Ayton might’ve been the series MVP, scoring 17.8 points per game and dominating the glass with 13.7 rebounds per contest. Chris Paul closed out the series with a legendary Game 6 performance, putting up 41 points, eight assists and three steals with no turnovers.

Antetokounmpo is the best player on either roster, but Paul is the most impactful in crunch time. Over the last few seasons, few players, if any, have been more productive than Paul in late and close situations. That’s the time when Milwaukee’s—specifically Antetokounmpo’s—deficiencies are often exposed. It could end up being the difference in which team wins the championship.

Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday stepped up late in multiple fourth quarters against Atlanta. The Suns are a better team than the Hawks, particularly on defense. Only Milwaukee has given up fewer points per possession than Phoenix this postseason.

Antetokounmpo’s injury, home-court advantage and the Phoenix’s ability to close games with Paul could give the Suns their first title in franchise history.

NBA Finals Schedule

Game 1: Tuesday, July 6 at Phoenix, 9 p.m. EDT, ABC

Game 2: Thursday, July 8 at Phoenix, 9 p.m. EDT, ABC

Game 3: Sunday, July 11 at Milwaukee, 8 p.m. EDT, ABC

Game 4: Wednesday, July 14 at Milwaukee, 9 p.m. EDT, ABC

Game 5: Saturday, July 17 at Phoenix, 9 p.m. EDT, ABC

Game 6: Tuesday, July 20 at Milwaukee , 9 p.m. EDT, ABC

Game 7: Thursday, July 22 at Phoenix, 9 p.m. EDT, ABC

NBA Finals Prediction

Suns in six