Game 1 NBA Finals 2021: Breaking Down Key Plays and Turning Points That Decided the Match

Let me take you back to that electrifying Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. As someone who's analyzed basketball for over a decade, I can confidently say this was one of those games where the final score - 118-105 in favor of Phoenix - doesn't begin to tell the real story. What fascinates me about championship basketball isn't just who wins, but how they win, and this game had more twists than a Hollywood thriller.

The opening quarter felt like Phoenix had brought the desert heat to Milwaukee's home court. Devin Booker came out looking like a man possessed, hitting 6 of his first 8 shots for 12 points in just the first 12 minutes. What impressed me wasn't just his scoring - it was how the Suns moved the ball with surgical precision. They racked up 9 assists in that first quarter alone, exposing Milwaukee's defensive rotations that seemed a step slow. Chris Paul, at 36 years young, was conducting the offense like a seasoned maestro, and I remember thinking to myself that if this continued, we might be looking at a blowout.

Then came what I consider the true turning point - the second quarter defensive adjustments by Milwaukee. Coach Budenholzer made the crucial decision to switch more aggressively on screens, particularly against the Paul-Booker pick-and-roll actions. The numbers show how effective this was - Phoenix's field goal percentage dropped from 54% in the first quarter to just 42% in the second. Giannis Antetokounmpo, playing through that scary knee injury from the previous series, started finding cracks in Phoenix's defense, attacking the rim with that unique combination of power and grace that makes him so special to watch.

Here's where things get really interesting from a strategic perspective. The third quarter became a battle of coaching adjustments, and frankly, I think Monty Williams outmaneuvered his counterpart during this stretch. Phoenix came out of halftime and immediately went to their "Spain pick-and-roll" sets, creating confusion in Milwaukee's defensive assignments. The result? Three consecutive wide-open threes for Mikal Bridges that stretched their lead to 13 points. What many casual viewers might miss is how these strategic wrinkles accumulate throughout a game - each successful set builds confidence while planting seeds of doubt in the opponent.

The final quarter showcased why championship experience matters. Chris Paul took over in the clutch, scoring 11 of his 32 points in the last 8 minutes. His mid-range jumper with 3:42 left, pushing the lead to 9, felt like the dagger. I've always believed that great players don't just make tough shots - they make the right plays, and Paul's decision-making down the stretch was nearly flawless. Meanwhile, Milwaukee's offense became predictable, relying too heavily on Giannis in isolation situations against a Suns defense that was perfectly content to let him score while shutting down everyone else.

Looking at this through the lens of match points systems used in other sports - where teams earn three points for decisive wins, two for hard-fought five-set victories, or one for a five-set loss - I'd argue this performance would have earned Phoenix a solid three points. They didn't just win; they made a statement by controlling the game's tempo and executing their game plan with remarkable consistency. The Bucks, meanwhile, showed flashes of brilliance but couldn't sustain their runs, largely due to poor three-point shooting (just 31% compared to Phoenix's 40%) and questionable rotational decisions.

What stays with me about this game isn't just the outcome, but how it set the tone for the entire series. Phoenix established their offensive identity while exposing Milwaukee's defensive vulnerabilities in the pick-and-roll. The Bucks would eventually adjust and win the championship, but in Game 1, they looked like a team still searching for answers against a Suns squad that played with poise and purpose. Sometimes in basketball, the first game tells you everything you need to know about how a series will unfold, and in this case, it revealed that Phoenix wasn't just happy to be there - they came to compete at the highest level.