Bucks 105 - 118 Suns: scores, summary, stats, highlights | NBA Playoff

Ayton had a monster game not just on the offensive end, but on the boards as well, grabbing 19 rebounds.

CP3 was unstoppable in the second half.

Booker showed up in his first Finals game of his career.

Cam Payne with two of his 10 points in Game 1.

CP3 was the MVP in Game 1

The Phoenix Suns stood their ground at home against the Milwaukee Buck in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Chris Paul exploded in the second half to lead the Suns to a 118-103 victory in Arizona.

Giannis returned for Game 1

The Bucks got a last minute pre game boost, with the return of Giannis Antentokounmpo. The Greek hyperextended his knee in Game 4 of the conference finals. There was no structural damage found after an MRI was taken, but Giannis missed the final two games of the last round.

The first quarter featured seven lead changes and three ties as both teams went blow for blow to open the game. The Suns took a 21-20 lead late in the first quarter and never trailed again. The Bucks were able to draw the game level in the second quarter, but went to the halftime break down by eight points.

Paul leads a second half charge

From the three minute mark in the second quarter to the nine minute mark in the third quarter Phoenix went on a 15-5 run to extend the lead to 13 points. Chris Paul took over in that period, particularly out of the halftime break. The veteran point guard scored 16 points in the third quarter before getting his hand taped with two minutes to go in the period.

In his first Finals game of his 16 year career Paul helped the Suns stretch the lead out to 20 points. Milwaukee cut the lead down to seven points in the fourth, but came close to making a late come back as the Suns kept the Bucks at a distance.

CP3 joins rare air with 30 points game

Paul failed to score in the opening quarter but ended the game with 32 points and 9 assists. The Suns leader joined Kareem Abdul Jabar and Tim Duncan as the only 36 year olds to score 30 or more points in a NBA Finals game. Booker followed up with 27, and Deandre Ayton had a fantastic Finals debut with 22 points and 19 rebounds.

Giannis looked like he was back to his explosive, unstoppable self in the first half of action, getting to the basket with ease, without showing any signs of lingering affects of that hyperextended knee last week. The Greek finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds. Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 29 points, including 15 points in the third.

The Suns now shift focus to holding serve on their home court in Game 2 on Thursday at 9 pm ET.

It's all over from Arizona. The Suns with their first NBA Finals game since 1993 while taking care of business on their home court.

Crowder fouled by Giannis, gets one of two to go.

Connaughton strings a three

Ayton on the easy finish off the feed from Paul

1:30 to go in the fourth.

Giannis fouled by Ayton, goes to the line, hits one of two.

Ayton to the line, hits two of two.

2 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Giannis back to the line, hits one of two.

Under 3 to go in the fourth quarter.

Giannis hits one of two from the line.

Paul fouled by Giannis, gets the bucket to go! FT is good to complete the three point play.

Booker with the pull up from mid range.

Forbes with a three ball

Timeout Bucks with 5 minutes to go in the fourth

Johnson in the corner with a deep two point jump shot.

5:30 to go in the fourth

Middleton driving and finishes in traffic.

Paul on the pull up from the FT line.

Booker stretches the lead back out to ten with a long ball.

Giannis gets the offensive board, and the put back.

Fobres hit a three from the right side off the Tucker feed. Timeout Suns with 7:46 to go in the fourth quarter.

Middleton off the glass from mid range.

Payne drops a three ball

Holiday with a dash to the rack and a lay up.

Payne gets another scoop with the left hand from the right side.

Giannis goes to the stripe after a foul by Crowder. Both FTs are good.

Holiday to the line, gets both FTs to drop.

Johnson to the line, hits two of two.

MIddleton off the offensive rebound gets the put back to go down low.

Under 10 to go in theh fourth.

Payne stretches to the bucket and finishes with the scoop.

Connaughton open for three from the right side

We are headed to the fourth quarter. The Suns have a commanding lead going into the final 12 minutes.

Middleton with a deep ball right before the quarter comes to an end.

Booker on the step back from the FT line.

Middleton for three from the left side.

Booker to the line, gets both to drop.  1:30 to go in the third quarter

MIddleton gets the mid range jumper to go.

Ayton to the line, hits two of two

Paul with ANOTHER THREE BALL!!!

MIddleton stops the Suns sprut with a three ball

Paul blows by Portis and gets the finger roll to go

Paul in the deep corner for three!

Portis knocks down a three out of the timeout.

Booker sinks the FT line jumper. Suns lead by 16, their largest of the night. Timeout Bucks with 4:42 to go in the third quarter.

Paul on the fader from outside the paint.

Under 5:30 to go in the third quarter.

Holiday with the drive finishes with the left hand.

Ayton slams down the alley oop off the feed and fancy dribbling from CP3.

Lopez drops a three from the top of the key.

Ayton to the line, hits two of two after the foul on Giannis.

Ayton on the follow up of the Bridges miss.

Lopez answers with a three ball

Bridges drops a three ball, and he's got 14 points.

Tucker gets it to go down low in traffic.

Bridges gets the steal and the easy bucket in transition after the assist from Booker. Timeout Bucks with 9:38 to go in the thrid.

The referees  have a look at the review, and call Lopez with a flagrant 1. FT good for Paul and Suns get possesion.

Paul pulls up from three point range, drops the three and gets the foul against Lopez.

Giannis drops a three for his first of the night.

Paul on the Pull up gets the scoring going in the second half.

Middleton leads all Bucks scorers.

Khris Middleton leads the Bucks with 12 first hafl points, Giannis with 11, and Lopez with 10.

All of Giannis's points have come from FT line or down low.

If there was any doubt about Giannis's knee, this will silence those questions.

Ayton has has a bright start with 10 points.

Giannis has 10 points and 9 rebounds already. His knee doesn't look as thought it's been a foul all night.

Booker leads all scorers with 16 points, Paul has 11, and Ayton has 10 for the Suns.

The first half comes to a close, with the Suns up by 8 points.

Bridges drains a three after some great ball movement.

1:15 to go in the half.

Bridges to the line after the foul on Connaughton, hits two of two.

Giannis left all alone for the easy dunk in the paint.

Paul with the pull up out of the timeout.

Timeout in Arizona with 2:47 to go in the first half.

3:04 to go in the second quarter.

Holiday with a fall away jumper in the lane.

Booker back to the line after the Tucker foul. Both FTs good for Booker. He's 8 for 8 from the line.

Paul pulls up from behind the arc.

Middleton gets the floater down the lane.

Middleton steps into a three from the top of the key.

Lopez with a dunk off the alley oop out of the timeout.

Booker with a baseline runner over Lopez. Timeout from Arizona with 6:55 to go in the second quarter. The Suns lead by 7, their largest advantage of the night.

Paul on the step back from the elbow.

Holiday gets the mid range jumper to drop.

Paul with a short jumper for his first FG.

Lopez with another turnaround hook

Paul to the line, hits two of two for his first points of the night.

Ayton dashes to the rack after the pass from Johnson.

Teague fires a three ball off the bench.

MIddleton gets the roll off the rim on the mid range jumper.

Johnson spots up from the left corner for three

High low from Cam Johnson to Ayton for the easy bucket under the bucket.

Tucker in the left corner for three to start the second quarter.

The first quarter comes to a close in Arizona. Both teams are playing great basketball out of the gate.

Giannis is lookin good in his return to action. He has 8 first quarter points, but more importantly for the Bucks he looks mobile, and looks agressive coming off the injury.

Booker has 12 points already. He started the first quarter 6 of 6 from the FT line.

Craig gets the tip in off the Payne missed three pointer.

Connaughton all alone for the lay in after the dump off from Giannis

Booker back to the line after another Forbes foul, both FTs good for Booker.

Giannis again with a dunk down low clearing out defenders in the paint.

Booker to the line after the Forbes foul, both FT's are good.

Giannis with quick step, stretches for a dunk on the baseline.

Payne spots up for three in transition! Back to back threes for the Suns and the Bucks need a timeout with 3:01 to go in the first quarter.

Cam Johnson in the corner for three

Portis stretches to the iron in transition for the lay up.

Booker to the line after Lopez commits the foul on the jump shot. Both FTs are good.

Middleton sinks a three ball off the dribble.

Ayton with the lay in off the alley oop feed from Booker.

Lopez drops long ball from the left side.

Bridges streaks to the rack with a dunk of the Paul feed in transition.

Booker on the double clutch lay up driving down the lane.

Timeout from Phoenix with 6:48 to go in the first quarter, the Bucks have an early two point lead.

Tucker on the reverse finish down low.

Booker's lay up is blocked by Giannis, but a goaltending call give the Suns the deuce.

Giannis back to the line, where he is hearing the fans counting how many seconds he takes with every FT. The Greek makes one of two.

Holiday finds Lopez under the basket for an easy two.

Ayton on the jump hook in the lane.

Bridges with a tap in off the alley oop in transition.

Giannis with a turn around jumper.

Ayton cutting down main street, gets an easy dunk

Middleton getting the scoring started from down low.

Booker with the jumper in the lane

Lopez gets the turnaround hook to go on the baseline.

Giannis fouled on the first possesion, goes to the line and bricks the first and gets the second to rattle home for the first point of the NBA Finals.

We are underway in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The Starting 5's are being announced at Phoenix Suns Arena, meaning we are just minutes away from tip off of Game 1 in the NBA Finals.

Devin Booker will be without his protective mask for Game 1 after breaking his nose early in the Western Confernce Finals.

Giannis is averaging a career high 28.2 ppg, but Khirs Middleton continues to be a key aspect of the Bucks success.

How healthy is Giannis? It won't take too long to tell how the knee is feeling.

The Pheonix Suns starting 5 for Game 1

Giannis will start Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Suns Coach Monty Williams was grateful of getting a few days off, "I think the guys feel really good about where we are," Williams said. "We have had a few days to heal and get back in the gym, and we have had some really good practices. ... Guys are ready to play. That's been the sentiment for the last couple of days."

Paul scored 41 points in the series clinching Game 6 of the Western Confernce Finals.

According to Bet365.com the Suns are 4.5 point favorites over the Bucks, with the Over/Under set at 219.5.

For the first time since the Suns swept the Nuggets, Chris Paul comes into a series 100 percent healthy. Phoenix won that series 4-0, the Bucks will be hoping for a different outcome.

The Suns are in their first NBA Finals since 1993 when Charles Barkley and Phoenix lost to the Chicgo Bulls won in six games.

The Suns coming in shining with all kinds of drip into Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The Bucks get the best news possible coming into tonight's Game 1, Giannis is a go.

The Eastern Conference Champs are in the building

BREAKING NEWS: According to ESPN Giannis Antetokounmpo will play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Giannis is the big question coming into tonights game. Will he or won't he play after hyperextending his knee in in Eastern Conference Finals?

The Bucks have one NBA title in franchise history, in 1971. The last time they were in the Finals was in 1974 ,

The Suns are looking for their first NBA Championship in franchise history.

Hello everyon and welcome to coverage of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. We are less than an hour away from tip off.

Hello everyone and welcome to the Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. AS English will have live coverage, updates, scores and stats of tonight’s series opener from Arizona.

The Suns wrapped up the Western Conference Finals after beating the Clippers in six Games. Chris Paul had a mammoth night to earn his first trip to the Finals, and Phoenix’s first trip to the Championship series since 1993. The Lakers were the first team to fall to the Devin Booker and the Suns in the opening round of the postseason.  Phoenix then swept the Denver Nuggets right before Chris Paul tested positive for Covid. Paul missed the first two games of the conference finals against the Clippers.

Milwaukee ran through Miami in four games. Then it was time to take Brooklyn, who came into the playoffs as one of the favorites to take the title. The Nets were decimated by injury from the first minute of the series when James Harden went down with a hamstring strain. Kyrie Irving twisted his ankle, and left Kevin Durant carrying the brunt of the load until overtime of Game 7. Next up, the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Both teams lost their superstars in the course of the series, the the Bucks outlasted the Hawks side and locked up their Finals spot in six games.

Giannis Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee in Game 4 against the Hawks and missed the rest of the series. Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez stepped up in the absence of the Greek. Lopez scored a playoff career high 33 points in Game 5 and Khris Middleton scored 23 points in the next game to close the series out.

Giannis is still feeling the effects of his hyperextended knee, and has been ruled a game time decision. The Greek Freak is averaging over 28 points and 12 rebounds. With out their two time MVP they will have to lean on Khris Middleton who is posting 23 points and 8 boards a game.

Despite battling though a shoulder injury and Covid, Chris Paul has been spectacular in this postseason. He has reached his first NBA Finals posting 18 points and almost nine assists a game. Devin Booker as led the way on the score sheet all year for the Suns but a broken nose suffered against in Game 2 of the Clippers series has thrown off his shooting touch. Booker is averaging over 25 points a night in the playoffs.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Bucks and the Suns tips off at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT from Arizona.