MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have tied the NBA Finals at two games apiece through a lot of help from Khris Middleton.
The Bucks trailed by nine in the fourth quarter before Middleton carried them to a 109-103 win over the Phoenix Suns. He drained the go-ahead basket while scoring 10 straight Milwaukee points before finishing with 40.
Phoenix led by two with 2 1/2 minutes left before Middleton made the next two baskets to give Milwaukee a 101-99 edge with 1:28 to play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) followed a pair of 40-point performances with 26 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and one huge block on Deandre Ayton with just over a minute remaining.
The only thing stopping Suns guard Devin Booker was foul trouble. He poured in 20 of his game-high 42 points in the third period but had to sit out 3 1/2 straight minutes after picking up his fifth foul early in the fourth.
Chris Paul shot just 5-for-13 and finished with 10 points and five turnovers, including one big miscue in the final minute.
Jae Crowder was the only other Suns player with more than 10 points, finishing with 15 and eight boards.
Game 5 is Saturday in Phoenix, where the Suns took the first two games of the series.