Advanced Search

The story appears on

Page A8

July 13, 2021

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » Sports » Basketball

Bucks trim Suns’ lead in finals

Source: AP | 00:05 UTC+8 July 13, 2021 | Print Edition

Chris Paul calls Deandre Ayton the anchor of the Phoenix Suns’ defense.

With Ayton on the bench for much of the second half, that defense sank.

The 6-foot-11 center’s inability to avoid foul trouble enabled Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to have their way in a 120-100 Game 3 victory over the Suns on Sunday night.

“He’s a big part of our team,” said Paul, the Suns’ All-Star point guard. “He’s the anchor of our defense. I feel like any (opposing) team would love for him not to be on the court offensively and defensively.”

Phoenix also missed Devin Booker’s production, as he shot 3 of 14 and collected just 10 points after scoring 27 and 31 in games 1 and 2.

Ayton’s absence showed just how big his presence on the floor is for the Suns.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft scored 16 points in the first 14 minutes of Game 3 but picked up his fourth foul with 10:25 left in the third quarter and sat out the rest of the period. By the time he returned, the Bucks owned a 22-point lead.

Phoenix still owns a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series with Game 4 tomorrow night in Milwaukee. But the Suns must find a way to slow down Antetokounmpo.

Basketball



 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend