NBA Playoff Recap: June 7, 2021

We get another week started with a playoff doubleheader. Let’s take a look at the key reasons for how both games unfolded.

Brooklyn Nets 125, Milwaukee Bucks 86

Nets lead series 2-0

FINAL BOX SCORE

In my Game 1 recap article, I predicted that if the Milwaukee Bucks could shoot a better percentage from 3-point range, they would be able to tie the series at one at Game 2. Little did I know, while Milwaukee would marginally improve from distance, they would go on to meltdown in every other facet of their game!

Brooklyn completely controlled this game. They never trailed, it was never tied, and they led by as many as 49 points. The game just got uglier and uglier as it went on.

Kevin Durant was the ringleader of this blowout, torching the Bucks for 32 points on 66.7 percent shooting in just three quarters of play. His teammates took it the rest of the way, as the Nets collectively knocked down a franchise playoff record 21 3-pointers. They out-dueled Milwaukee 63-24 on the perimeter! Not only did the Bucks not have an answer for the Nets’ offense, they looked absolutely lost on the defensive end.

As I said, Milwaukee did manage to improve their 3-point shooter, but only barely. After going 6-of-30 (20.0 percent) in Game 1, they managed to go 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) in the first half of this game. However, they couldn’t keep up the consistency, and they went 3-of-13 (23.1 percent) in the second half. Still, that worked out to a very slight improvement of 29.6 percent for the game. Yikes.

On top of their perimeter issues, Milwaukee also had a less fruitful game inside the arc. They generated just 52 points in the paint, 20 fewer than Game 1, and were outscored 11-15 on second chance points after dominating that category 20-4 in the previous game. The Bucks also decisively lost the turnover battle, giving up 16 while forcing just nine. Their giveaways turned into 23 points while they only generated nine points on their takeaways.

These are the type of games that make you lose hope in the trailing team ever coming back in the series. Still, this is a seven-game series, and we just saw the Los Angeles Clippers bounce back from an 0-2 deficit to win and advance to the next round. It’s going to take quite a few adjustments from head coach Mike Budenholzer, and a stronger effort from the Bucks players. The task will be even taller if the Nets continue to play at the level they have in the first two games of this series.

Phoenix Suns 122, Denver Nuggets 105

Suns lead series 1-0

FINAL BOX SCORE

This game was a palette cleanser compared to Bucks/Nets. In the end, however, this still turned out to be a very decisive win for the Phoenix Suns.

The first half, at least, was highly competitive with both sides even in most statistical categories. If you really needed to parce the stats of the 58-57, Nuggets lead, Denver outscored Phoenix inside the arc 36-28, while the Suns made up some of the difference at the line 8-1. Both teams made seven 3-pointers in the first half.

Then the third quarter happened, and the Suns took off on a 16-0 run that electrified the Phoenix Suns Arena crowd and put the team in control of the game for good. Mikal Bridges led the charge in the third with 13 points on 5-of-5 (2-of-2 from 3) shooting. Then Chris Paul strolled into the fourth quarter and scored 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting.

Bridges finished the evening with a team-high 23 points, while Paul tied Devin Booker with 21 points. Deandre Ayton even chipped in a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Outside of their own scoring, another key to the Suns’ victory was their ability to neutralize some of Denver’s more valuable players. The Nuggets’ guard rotation had a fairly rough day. Starting point Facundo Campazzo was an exception, as he finished with a solid 14 points (on 5-of-9 shooting, three 3-pointers), six assists, and two steals.

However, his teammates Austin Rivers and Monte Morris couldn’t find the same touch, combining for just nine points on 3-of-17 shooting. On the defensive end, it’s clear that none of the trio could fully keep up with the likes of Paul and Booker.

Most importantly, the Suns kept Nikola Jokic from having a breakout game. Jokic is the presumptive MVP and his game is elevated by the fact that he is an elite playmaking. Tonight, Phoenix kept him to dishing just three assists, which is just over five dimes fewer than his regular season average. His 22 points and nine rebounds are also strong numbers for a starting center. For Jokic, that statline can be seen as an off-night.