The Block (Milwaukee Bucks)
The Block was a defensive basketball play that occurred in Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Finals, played between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks on July 14, 2021, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With 1:14 remaining in the game and the Milwaukee Bucks leading 101-99, Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked Deandre Ayton's potential game-tying alley-opp. This is considered by the fans and the media to be one of the greatest blocks of all-time.
The series
The Phoenix Suns, who entered the 2020-21 NBA season with a 10-year playoff drought and having a .302 winning percentage in the last five seasons, which is the worst winning percentage in the five years prior for a team advancing to the final playoff round in any of the four major American professional sports leagues,, acquired All-Star Chris Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder by trading away Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., and a future first-round draft pick, and made their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993 and were seeking for their first NBA Championship in franchise history. The Milwaukee Bucks, after finishing with the league's best record in the prior two seasons before suffering disappointments in the playoffs, acquired Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans in a four-team trade, surrendering a bounty in starting point guard Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, the rights to R. J. Hampton, and a package of future draft picks, and made their first NBA Finals appearance since 1974 and were seeking to end a 50-year title drought by winning their first NBA Championship since 1971.
The Phoenix Suns took a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals by winning Games 1 and 2 at home, led by Chris Paul, with 32 and 23 points in Games 1 and 2, respectively, and Devin Booker, with 27 and 31 points in Games 1 and 2, respectively. The Milwaukee Bucks won Game 3 120-100 at home, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 41 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, as well as more support from his teammates to cut the series deficit to 2-1.
The game
The Phoenix Suns led for 37:55 of the first 44 minutes of the game. After the Phoenix Suns had a 99-97 lead with 2:30 remaining, Khris Middleton made consecutive jump shots to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 101-99 lead with 1:28 remaining.
The Block
With 1:14 remaining in the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked Deandre Ayton's potential game-tying alley-oop. P.J. Tucker then grabbed the defensive rebound.
Rest of the Game
After Chris Paul lost his balance on his own, Jrue Holiday stole the ball and passed it to Khris Middleton for a fast-break layup to put the Milwaukee Bucks ahead 103-99 with 27.2 second remaining. Khris Middleton then finished his 10-point run with four more free throws to put the Bucks ahead 107-101. The Milwaukee Bucks won the game 109-103 to tie the series at 2-2.
Rest of series
The Milwaukee Bucks would go on to win the NBA Finals in six games, winning Game 5 123-119 highlighted by Jrue Holiday's steal from Devin Booker with 16 seconds remaining after which he passed the ball to Giannis Antetokounmpo for the alley-oop to put the Bucks ahead 122-109 with 13.5 seconds remaining, and winning Game 6 105-98 led by Giannis Antetokounmpo's 50 points (which tied a Finals record for the most scored by a player in a series-clinching game, set by Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks in 1958.), 14 rebounds, and five blocks. Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the NBA Finals MVP for his dominant performances in the NBA Finals, becoming the youngest player to be named NBA Finals MVP at age 26 since Kawhi Leonard (22) in 2014
The series
The Phoenix Suns, who entered the 2020-21 NBA season with a 10-year playoff drought and having a .302 winning percentage in the last five seasons, which is the worst winning percentage in the five years prior for a team advancing to the final playoff round in any of the four major American professional sports leagues,, acquired All-Star Chris Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder by trading away Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., and a future first-round draft pick, and made their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993 and were seeking for their first NBA Championship in franchise history. The Milwaukee Bucks, after finishing with the league's best record in the prior two seasons before suffering disappointments in the playoffs, acquired Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans in a four-team trade, surrendering a bounty in starting point guard Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, the rights to R. J. Hampton, and a package of future draft picks, and made their first NBA Finals appearance since 1974 and were seeking to end a 50-year title drought by winning their first NBA Championship since 1971.
The Phoenix Suns took a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals by winning Games 1 and 2 at home, led by Chris Paul, with 32 and 23 points in Games 1 and 2, respectively, and Devin Booker, with 27 and 31 points in Games 1 and 2, respectively. The Milwaukee Bucks won Game 3 120-100 at home, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 41 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, as well as more support from his teammates to cut the series deficit to 2-1.
The game
The Phoenix Suns led for 37:55 of the first 44 minutes of the game. After the Phoenix Suns had a 99-97 lead with 2:30 remaining, Khris Middleton made consecutive jump shots to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 101-99 lead with 1:28 remaining.
The Block
With 1:14 remaining in the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked Deandre Ayton's potential game-tying alley-oop. P.J. Tucker then grabbed the defensive rebound.
Rest of the Game
After Chris Paul lost his balance on his own, Jrue Holiday stole the ball and passed it to Khris Middleton for a fast-break layup to put the Milwaukee Bucks ahead 103-99 with 27.2 second remaining. Khris Middleton then finished his 10-point run with four more free throws to put the Bucks ahead 107-101. The Milwaukee Bucks won the game 109-103 to tie the series at 2-2.
Rest of series
The Milwaukee Bucks would go on to win the NBA Finals in six games, winning Game 5 123-119 highlighted by Jrue Holiday's steal from Devin Booker with 16 seconds remaining after which he passed the ball to Giannis Antetokounmpo for the alley-oop to put the Bucks ahead 122-109 with 13.5 seconds remaining, and winning Game 6 105-98 led by Giannis Antetokounmpo's 50 points (which tied a Finals record for the most scored by a player in a series-clinching game, set by Bob Pettit of the St. Louis Hawks in 1958.), 14 rebounds, and five blocks. Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the NBA Finals MVP for his dominant performances in the NBA Finals, becoming the youngest player to be named NBA Finals MVP at age 26 since Kawhi Leonard (22) in 2014
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