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Bucks forward Khris Middleton is a double All-Star who avoids the spotlight and bustling theaters.
But in the final two minutes of Milwaukee’s return in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, you couldn’t avoid Middleton’s exploits. He led the Bucks, ahead of their hometown crowd, with 10 straight points to highlight his 40 points, six rebounds and four assists in Milwaukee’s 109-103 win over the Suns.
He was 15 for 33 from the field – the most shooting attempts he has ever taken in the playoffs, while his partner, Giannis Antetokounmpo, had a low volume night. Middleton didn’t make this year’s All-Star Game, but he may have a championship ring soon.
When a reporter asked Middleton when he knew it would be “a Khris Middleton night”, his Bucks teammate Pat Connaughton interrupted him by saying: “Every night is a Khris Middleton night”.
Of course, if Antetokounmpo had scored 10 straight points to win Game 4, there would have been calls for a Greek Freak statue to be erected in downtown Milwaukee. (He can still get one because of his stuck on Deandre Ayton’s alley-oop dunk.)
But Milwaukee won because of Middleton’s soft, feathery sweater late in the game that the Bucks had hung out in all along.
“It was awesome,” Antetokounmpo said. “He was aggressive. I kept communicating to him that there were things we could do to open him wide, to make him jump on his elbow because they usually help a lot when he turns the corner. But that’s what he does in the process. We want him to have the ball. We want him to be the decision maker. We know he’s going to take some big hits, and tonight he was amazing. We need him to keep doing it. We are within reach of our objectives. ”
Middleton speaks softly and wears a wicked jumper, but he could be poised to earn superstar credibility if the Bucks win two more games and clinch Milwaukee’s first title since 1972.
“You need someone who can make those shots,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Him and Giannis in a pick-and-roll, Giannis sets up great screens. Khris, I thought he looked good pretty early on. But then he stuck with it. Credit to him. Lots of big hard knocks, then the tough finish in transition. He was special. ”
Regarding the lack of headlines he gets, Middleton said, “I’m sorry, I don’t care what you write or think, whether it’s good or bad. But for my teammates to trust me, trust me, that’s the most important of all.
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