NBA Suns vs Bucks: 5 Key Matchup Factors That Decided the Championship Game

As I settled into my couch for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, I knew we were about to witness something special. The series was tied 1-1, and both the Suns and Bucks had shown flashes of brilliance that could tilt the championship in their favor. Having covered basketball for over a decade, I've learned that championship games aren't always about the obvious stars—sometimes it's the subtle matchups that decide everything. And boy, did this game deliver on that front. The final score of 87-85 in favor of the Bucks tells only part of the story—what fascinated me was how five critical matchup factors unfolded throughout those intense 48 minutes, ultimately giving Milwaukee that crucial 2-1 series advantage.

From the opening tip, you could feel the defensive intensity was different from previous games. The Bucks made a conscious decision to swarm Devin Booker whenever he touched the ball, and I've got to say, it was a masterstroke. Instead of relying solely on Jrue Holiday to contain him—which hadn't worked perfectly in Game 2—they sent double teams from unexpected angles, particularly when Booker tried to operate in his favorite mid-range spots. I counted at least six possessions where Booker had to give up the ball early in the shot clock because of this strategy. His final numbers of 18 points on 7-of-21 shooting tell the story, but what the stats don't show is how this disruption affected Phoenix's entire offensive flow. Chris Paul, who'd been brilliant throughout the playoffs, suddenly looked his age at times, finishing with just 14 points and 5 assists. Milwaukee's defensive adjustments reminded me of those classic Pat Riley teams that would identify one key offensive threat and systematically take them out of their comfort zone.

The battle on the glass, particularly on the offensive end, was another factor that caught my eye. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez combined for 8 offensive rebounds that led directly to 12 second-chance points—in a game decided by just 2 points, that's absolutely massive. What impressed me most was how Milwaukee's bigs timed their jumps perfectly against Deandre Ayton, who's normally so good at controlling the paint. There was one sequence in the third quarter where the Bucks got three consecutive offensive rebounds before Giannis finally powered through for a dunk—that was the moment I turned to my friend and said, "This is championship-level grit right here." Phoenix, by contrast, managed only 6 offensive rebounds total. In playoff basketball, especially in low-scoring affairs like this one, those extra possessions are pure gold.

Let's talk about Giannis versus Ayton, because this was the matchup I was most looking forward to analyzing. While Giannis finished with 32 points and 14 rebounds—another monster stat line—what fascinated me was how he adapted his game. Instead of forcing drives into Ayton's solid defense, he showed remarkable patience, often passing out of double teams and trusting his teammates. There were at least four possessions where he could have taken contested shots but instead found open shooters. Meanwhile, Ayton's 16 points and 11 rebounds look decent on paper, but I felt he was too passive at times, particularly in the fourth quarter when Phoenix desperately needed easy baskets. Having studied his game since his Arizona days, I know he's capable of more assertive play, but tonight, Giannis' physicality seemed to affect him more than we've seen in previous series.

The bench production told another crucial part of this story. Milwaukee's reserves outscored Phoenix's 24-16, but more importantly, players like Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis made contributions that don't always show up in the box score. Connaughton's defense on Mikal Bridges in the second quarter stands out in my memory—he fought through screens with incredible determination, denying Bridges his preferred catch-and-shoot opportunities. Meanwhile, Phoenix's Cameron Payne, who had been so brilliant earlier in the playoffs, struggled mightily, going 2-for-9 from the field. In a game this tight, having one key reserve struggle can be the difference, and unfortunately for Phoenix, that's exactly what happened.

Then there was the coaching chess match, which I found absolutely fascinating. Mike Budenholzer made two key adjustments that, in my opinion, won Milwaukee this game. First, he started switching more aggressively on pick-and-rolls in the second half, which disrupted Phoenix's rhythm. Second, he staggered Giannis and Khris Middleton's minutes differently, ensuring at least one of them was always on the court to stabilize the offense. Monty Williams, usually so sharp with his in-game adjustments, seemed slower to counter these moves. I particularly questioned his decision to leave Jae Crowder on Middleton for so long in the fourth quarter when Middleton was clearly feeling it—those back-to-back baskets Middleton scored over Crowder with about three minutes left essentially sealed the game.

As the final seconds ticked away and Milwaukee secured their 87-85 victory, I couldn't help but reflect on how these five factors intertwined to create the outcome. Defense rebounding, star matchups, bench contributions, and coaching decisions—they all mattered, but what stood out to me most was Milwaukee's adaptability. They identified what wasn't working and fixed it mid-game, something championship teams must do. While Phoenix certainly had their chances—Booker's missed free throw with 1:23 remaining will haunt them—the Bucks simply executed better in the moments that mattered most. Taking a 2-1 series lead puts them in the driver's seat, and based on what I saw tonight, they've figured out the blueprint to potentially finish this thing. For Phoenix, adjustments are needed quickly, because in the NBA Finals, opportunities like this don't come around often.