Phoenix Suns vs. Milwaukee Bucks NBA Finals Game 1 live updates: Traffic woes expected

The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks face off in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at Phoenix Suns Arena.

Follow our updates on the game throughout the night.

Chris Paul takes control 

Chris Paul has taken control of Game 1 in the third quarter. He had 16 points in the third period for Phoenix and 27 points in the game. 

Paul is 10-for-15 shooting in the game and 4-for-5 from 3-point range. He has six assists and two turnovers.

He was 6-of-7 from the field in the third quarter.

The Suns lead the game 92-76 after the third quarter.

Khris Middleton has 17 points to lead the Bucks.

Balanced scoring for Suns

Four of the Suns’ five starters have scored in double figures with 4:42 left in the third quarter.

Chris Paul has 19 for Phoenix, Devin Booker has 18, Deandre Ayton has 16 and Mikal Bridges has 14.

The other Suns starter, Jae Crowder, hasn’t scored and is 0-for-7 from the field, but is making his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball.

The Suns lead the game, 78-62.

Paul gets up hobbling after getting fouled on three

Chris Paul nailed a three-pointer with the shot clock running out against the Bucks with 10.17 left in the third quarter, while also getting fouled by Brook Lopez.

Lopez was called for a flagrant foul on the play for not giving Paul room to land on his three point attempt and Paul made the free throw.

Paul stayed in the game and the Suns soon took a 65-52 lead with 9:38 left in the second quarter.

Suns exploiting Brook Lopez

The Suns are taking advantage on offense when Milwaukee switches on defense, getting the ball to whoever is being guarded by Brook Lopez.

Chris Paul has made a couple of jumpers over Lopez, and Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker have also benefited from the switches.

Will Milwaukee change things up on defense in the second half? Expect the Suns to try to continue to exploit Lopez on defense in the second half.

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Giannis impresses in return from injury

Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t shown many signs of rust in returning from injury for the Bucks.

He made some very impressive plays in the first half, including a highlight-reel block where he ran from one end of the court to the other to prevent a Suns’ fastbreak basket.

Suns take lead into half

The Suns have a 57-49 lead at the end of the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Devin Booker has 16 points to lead all scorers while the Bucks’ Khris Middleton has 12, Brook Lopez has 11 and Giannis Antetokounmpo has 10, not really looking slowed from the injury that caused him to miss Milwaukee’s previous two games.

Chris Paul has 11 for the Suns and Deandre Ayton has 10.

The Suns are shooting 47.6% from the field while the Bucks are shooting 42.9%.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots againsta Milwaukee Bucks forward P.J. Tucker (17) after he was fouled during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena July 6, 2021.

 (Photo: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic) Booker’s aggressiveness paying off

Devin Booker has shot eight free throws for the Suns in the first half with 4:31 remaining in the second quarter.

He has made all eight of them, half of his game-leading 16 points.

The Suns hold a 50-47 lead with 2:47 left in the first half.

After a pair of Mikal Bridge free throws with 1:37 left, Suns lead 54-49. They have made all 12 of their free throw attempts. The Bucks are 2-for-4 from the line, all attempts by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

End of first quarter

Giannis Antetokounmpo has eight points to lead the Bucks at the end of the first quarter, while Brook Lopez has seven.

The Suns’ Devin Booker leads all scorers with 12 points on 3-for-6 shooting, while Deandre Ayton has six for Phoenix.

Milwaukee shot 11-for-26 from the field, while Phoenix hit 11-of-23 shots in the first quarter.

Chris Paul played just seven minutes for the Suns.

The Suns lead the game, 30-26.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives to the basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena July 6, 2021.

 (Photo: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic) Saric exits game for Phoenix

The Suns are not a big team and they got a little smaller late in the first quarter.

Backup center Dario Saric exited the game with about two minutes left in the quarter, limping toward the locker room.

Frank Kaminsky is the team’s third-team center.

The broadcast later said that Saric was getting his right knee evaluated and ABC’s Malika Andrews tweeted that the Suns said he would not return.

Free throw count

Phoenix Suns fans are making their presence felt when Giannis Antetokounmpo is attempting free throws.

They are counting how long he takes to shoot each one when he is at the line.

And they are doing it loudly.

The Bucks star is 2-for-4 from the line early in the game.

The Bucks and Suns were tied 12-12 midway through the first quarter of Game 1.

Giannis Antetokounmpo starting for Milwaukee

NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is in the starting lineup for the Milwaukee Bucks for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Suns on Tuesday night.

Antetokounmpo was initially listed as doubtful on the Bucks injury report on Tuesday night. He was upgraded to questionable Tuesday afternoon.

He has missed the past two games for Milwaukee, both wins for the Bucks, after injury his knee against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It remains to be seen how healthy Antetokounmpo is in the game, but him playing has to be seen as an encouraging sign for the Bucks.

Leave for game early

Downtown Phoenix is going to be busy tonight with Game 1 of the NBA Finals beginning at 6 p.m. and the Arizona Diamondbacks hosting the Colorado Rockies beginning at 6:40 p.m.

Probably a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to get to either of these events.

Jackson Street is closed and fans can ride the Metro for free with their ticket, helping you avoid having to spend time trying to find a parking place.

Television update

All of the NBA Finals games are on ABC with Game 1 beginning at 6 p.m.

ESPN replaced Rachel Nichols Tuesday from being the sideline reporter for the games with Malika Andrews.

“We believe this is best decision for all concerned in order to keep the focus on the NBA Finals,” ESPN said in a statement.  

In a recently released video that was recorded last year, Nichols told  Adam Mendelsohn – a longtime LeBron James adviser – that she felt Maria Taylor, who is Black, was chosen to host pre- and post-game NBA finals coverage because the network was “feeling pressure” about on-air racial diversity.  

She landed in hot water with the network over her comments.

You can read more about the situation here.

Pregame reading

Here are some stories to read from azcentral sports reporters and columnists to prepare yourself for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Mark Hernandez throws a basketball in the air before Game 1 of the NBA Finals outside the Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix on July 6, 2021.

 (Photo: Joseph Cooke/The Republic) Finals preview video

Watch Suns beat writer Duane Rankin and columnist Kent Somers preview and predict the NBA Finals:

Suns beat writer Duane Rankin and columnist Kent Somers share their insights and predictions for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. Arizona Republic