The 2021 NBA Finals will now come down to a best of three series starting Saturday night, as the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns square off in pivotal Game 5.

The Bucks were able to protect their home court in Game 3 & 4, matching the Suns opening two wins to show this series was more 50/50 than a clear Phoenix advantage. Mike Budenholzer’s team in their 109-103 victory on Wednesday elicited one of the worst performances in Chris Paul’s career, as the legendary point guard had more turnovers (5) than field goals made (4) in Game 4 and will need to return to his Hall of Fame form for the Suns to regain their edge.

Monty Williams was able to see his team contain Giannis Antetokounmpo from another 40-point game, but saw Khris Middleton pick up the scoring slack with his own 40 point effort.

Paul isn’t the only Suns starter who will need to return to his Game 1 & 2 form. Mikal Bridges followed up his four-point Game 3 with just seven points in Game 4. He must reassert himself on both ends of the court to get Phoenix back to their optimum level scoring wise.

Player Props

Khris Middleton, Over 24.5 Points (+100)

Middleton hasn’t been as reliable on the road as he has been at home. And asking him to come close to repeating his 40-point Game 4 effort is too tough a task.

But he will have the ball in his hands as much as Giannis. And with Holiday’s shot not to be counted on, Middleton will have many attempts to get over 24.5. Going to the free throw line will also be key for Middleton to give you the Over.

Over/Under, 220 Points

After the first two games securing the Over, the Under got its payback like Milwaukee to take place in Games 3 and 4 at the Fiserv Forum.

Those back-to-back Under totals were predicated on Paul’s struggles, as it lead to the Suns coming nowhere near the balanced juggernaut they have been all Playoffs.

But with the series now back in Phoenix, that offensive energy throughout the game will remain for the Suns in this contest for both teams to get the Over back in action.

Final Score Prediction: Bucks 106, Suns 115

The series appears to be the case of who has home court being the slight difference between who will be champion and who will not.

Paul will be determined to make sure his forgettable time in Milwaukee is pushed to the side. His much improved play will give the Suns that offensive, efficient equilibrium their starting lineup had in Games 1 and 2.

In addition to the Suns quality scoring returning, I don’t see Holiday having a game offensively similar to Game 3. Phoenix did not overreact to his five threes that game and will continue to dare him being a perimeter threat.

Antetokounmpo and Middleton will produce some more numbers, but it will not be enough to stop the Suns collectively returning to their offensive best.