PHOENIX (AP) — Jrue Holiday’s steal and alley-oop pass to Giannis Antetounmpo for a dunk sealed a wild Game 5 and gave the Milwaukee Bucks a 123-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Antetokounmpo had 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Khris Middleton added 29 points and Holiday had 27 points and 13 assists. Booker had 40 points for the Suns.
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The Bucks shot their way out of an early 16-point hole but then won it by making a huge defensive play for the second straight game.
They can win their first title since 1971 in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.
Older updates:
10:12 p.m. -- Best photos from the road in Game 5
AP Images, as always, captured dozens of stunning images from Game 5 in Phoenix. Review the best shots here.
9:54 p.m. -- Bucks up 10 with one quarter to go
The Bucks lead by double digits with just 12 minutes to go in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. As Lance Allan points out, they're shooting very efficiently tonight.
One quarter to go. #Bucks up ten and still shooting 62 percent from the floor
— Lance Allan (@lanceallan) July 18, 2021
9:48 p.m. -- 25,500 pack into Deer District
The Bucks just shared that 25,500 fans are packed into Deer District for the outdoor Game 5 watch party. Combine that with the 9,000 indoors, and there are nearly 35,000 fans watching the Bucks downtown right now!
9:17 p.m. -- Bucks up at the half!
After a tumultuous first half that saw the Bucks trailing by double digits at times, they stormed back in the second quarter to take a three-point lead!
8:28 p.m. -- LeBron James is here to watch Game 5
We have NBA royalty in the house tonight! Lakers star and NBA Champion LeBron James is in Phoenix to watch Game 5 of the Bucks-Suns.
8:14 p.m. -- Huge bottleneck to get into Deer District
As Game 5 gets underway, there are still hundreds if not thousands of fans who are waiting to get into Deer District.
7:37 p.m. -- Same starting five for the Bucks tonight
The starters were just announced for the Bucks and once again it's Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Holiday, Lopez, and Tucker who will take to the court first.
Game 5. Our 5. pic.twitter.com/qNm9WzidmI
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 18, 2021
7:28 p.m. -- Bucks assistant coach will miss game
Bucks assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer won't be on the bench for Game 5 of the NBA Finals, according to Adrian Wojnarowski:
Bucks assistant Josh Oppenheimer won’t be on bench for Game 5, sources tell @malika_andrews and me. https://t.co/kiXQ75FjlX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 17, 2021
7:09 p.m. -- Indoor watch party once again a sell-out
The Bucks are once again expecting 9,000 fans to fill Fiserv Forum for the team's indoor Game 5 watch party. Fans are just starting to fill in now.
Fiserv Forum ready for game five.
— Charles Benson (@CharlesBenson4) July 18, 2021
9000 fans expected for a game that will be played in Phoenix. Watch party is a sellout!#FeartheDeer. pic.twitter.com/I4SqV2ZfMD
6:27 p.m. -- Long lines to get into Deer District
Deer District is going to be packed tonight! This is what the line looks like, more than 90 minutes before tip-off.
The line into the Deer District tonight. Gonna be slammed again. #BucksInSix pic.twitter.com/LzslQoZqR3
— Bruce Harrison (@BruceHarrisonTV) July 17, 2021
6:06 p.m. -- Bucks wearing road whites for Game 5
It's the "Association" jerseys tonight for the Bucks:
Tonight's #NBAFinals Jersey:
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 17, 2021
ASSOCIATION. pic.twitter.com/WFcfgGZRyP
5:55 p.m. -- Giannis, Middleton on the court for warm-ups ahead of Game 5
TMJ4 Sports Reporter Delaney Brey is in Phoenix for tonight's game. She reports that Khris Middleton hit the court first tonight for warm-ups, joined shortly after by Giannis - just about two hours before tip.
Giannis is on the floor. #NBAFinals https://t.co/PzlO7hEq8Z pic.twitter.com/e3iNEheUJU
— Delaney Brey (@DelaneyBrey) July 17, 2021
5:16 p.m. -- Thanasis Antetokounmpo out for Game 5 of NBA Finals after entering health and safety protocols
Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokoumpo is out for Game 5 of the NBA Finals after entering the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, according to the NBA's injury report.
Thanasis, the older brother of Giannis Antetokounmpo, has played in 13 games for the Bucks during the 2021 NBA playoffs. He is averaging 3.4 minutes per game, and putting up 0.7 points and 0.8 rebounds per game.
Thanasis is the only Bucks player listed on the injury report for health and safety protocols. Donte DiVincenzo and Sam Merrill also are listed with existing injuries.
On the Suns' side, big man Dario Saric remains out with a torn ACL.
Game 5 of the NBA Finals tips off at 8 p.m. in Phoenix. The series is currently tied, with each team winning two games.
