Phoenix Suns take early lead in NBA Finals series

The Phoenix Suns have clinched Game 1 of the NBA Finals series with a convincing victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 3: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks hugs Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks after the game during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on July 3, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns have clinched Game 1 of the NBA Finals series with a 118-105 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday AEST.

The hosts dominated the middle quarters in front of a vocal crowd at Phoenix Suns Arena, and will take an early 1-0 lead in the seven-game series.

It marks the first Phoenix have won an NBA Finals game since 1993.

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Chris Paul scored a game-high 32 points on NBA Finals debut, also contributing nine assists and four rebounds.

Incredibly, Phoenix were 25-26 from the free throw line in Game 1.

Meanwhile, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo returned for the Bucks after injuring his knee during the Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks.

“He doesn’t look hobbled,” former NBA star Jalen Rose said at half-time. “He was limping a bit when he walked into the arena, but the commitment he’s shown to this team and the effort he displayed in the first half - for him to show up to Game 1 of the NBA Finals with that injury has been outstanding.”

Antetokounmpo managed 17 rebounds and 20 points, with Milwaukee star Khris Middleton scoring a team-high 29 points.

VALLEY BOYZ TAKE GAME 1

Suns take down the Bucks, 118-105 pic.twitter.com/ojFMIyxhCZ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 7, 2021

1 down. 3 to go @CP3

— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 7, 2021

A very famous local sports radio host has taught us it's the first one to 4. But man CP3 looks unstoppable right now.

— Mark Followill (@MFollowill) July 7, 2021

“I got my head in the game, I saw the shots they were giving me and I was just missing them, so I just kept trying to be aggressive and my guys got going," Paul said after the win.

"The coaches were talking about pace, I’m the old head that likes to slow it down sometimes but in this series we’ve got to place with pace.

“It’s trust. We’ve been building all season long for these moments and we’re just going to keep playing, this is just one game and we’ve got to stay locked in.

“Sometimes less is more and we knew that there was going to be a lot of energy coming into this game. We’ve got one but we need to get another one at home.”

The Suns and Bucks will face off again on Friday AEST for Game 2.

Originally published as Phoenix Suns take early lead in NBA Finals series

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