MILWAUKEE — Beauty is a not a requirement for championships.
The aesthetics of Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals won’t be remembered by the Milwaukee Bucks of their fans.
All they will remember is the joy of winning a title and career-defining performance from two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns 105-98 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday, giving Milwaukee its first championship since 1971 when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson propelled the Bucks over the Baltimore Bullets.
And, as it should be, Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, carried the Bucks in a career-defining effort.
Named Finals MVP, Antetokounmpo scored 50 points, collected 14 rebounds and had five blocks, and just as important as his 16-for-25 shooting from the field was, the notoriously below-average free throw shooter, made 17-for-19 foul shots.
His 50 points were sixth-highest scoring performance in Finals history, according to basketball-reference.com.
In the final three games of the series — all close contests — Milwaukee proved to be the more poised team.
In a 77-77 game after three quarters, Milwaukee outscored Phoenix 28-21 in the final quarter. Khris Middleton’s mid-range jumper with 56.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Bucks a 102-96 lead.
The Bucks are the fifth NBA team in 36 times to lose the first two games of a Finals series and win the title.
Antetokounmpo joins Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP, and All-Star Game MVP.
Here are four key takeaways from Milwaukee’s closeout victory:
Antetokounmpo dominates
The two-time MVP — and first-time Finals MVP — had third game with at least 40 points in the Finals to go along another game with at least 30.
He had 20 points in the third quarter, and 30 of his points were scored in the paint where he dominated throughout the series.
Yes, he overpowered the Suns at the rim, but his free throws in a closeout game were necessary in a tight game. It was the best postseason free-throw shooting performance of his career.
It was a special night for Antetokounmpo. He had a block in the early minutes of the game, and his defensive effort combined with his offense made sure the series didn’t go back to Phoenix for Game 7.
Paul leads the way for Suns
With his fellow starters struggling, Paul, along with Cam Payne, carried Phoenix in the first half. He had 10 of his 13 first-half points in the second quarter when the Suns shut down the Bucks’ offense and took a 47-42 halftime lead. He also four assists.
In what was Paul’s best chance to win a championship in his 16 seasons, he had 16 points and five assists.
Finals lessons for Booker, Ayton
Devin Booker is a star and played like one in the Finals: 58 points in the first two games, back-to-back 40-point efforts in Games 4 and 5.
But in Game 6, he was just 8-for-22 from the field, including 0-for-7 on 3. He was 4-for-13 from the field and 0-for-4 on 3s midway through the third quarter and finished with 19 points and six turnovers.
Ayton, who had a moment or two in the Finals, struggled offensively with 12 points on 4-for-12 shooting and spent time on the bench again with foul trouble.
But the entire playoff run was an experience that will benefit both players.
Just enough help for Antetokounmpo
Midway through the third quarter, Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis were the only Bucks players in double figures.
Portis finished with 16 points, Jrue Holiday had 12 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, and Middleton had 17 points.
The Bucks shot 45.1% from the field and just 22.2% on 3-pointers. But they made shots when they were necessary, especially in the second half when they went 56% from the field.
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.
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