


Chris Paul, Devin Booker (averaging 30.0 points in the Finals) and Deandre Ayton will be scratching and clawing to stay alive. Now, they head back to Milwaukee with a chance to secure the organization's first NBA title in 50 years. Whether in an ebb or flow, the Bucks can rely on a calm and collected pull-up from Khris Cool. Middleton never appears rattled when things don't go his way or overexcited when he's rolling. When things feel frenetic or the pressure is on, Milwaukee always has a steady hand to which to go. Middleton may be the game's premier gap filler. Jrue Holiday, who had another massive performance in Game 5, is the bellwether.

Giannis is putting up the gaudier numbers. In high- and very high-leverage possessions (defined here), the Bucks are plus-8.0 points per 100 possessions with Middleton. And he's been the Bucks' safety net in seemingly every important moment. Overall, Milwaukee is plus-5.9 points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor and plus-0.5 when he's off.

But there has long been a lingering concern that Middleton wasn't quite enough of a star to help Giannis win a title.ĭuring this playoff run, he's putting up 23.9 points and 5.1 assists. You would think two All-Star appearances and 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.3 threes, with shooting splits of 47.0 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three and 88.2 percent from the line, over the last three seasons would do that. Whether Milwaukee gets the championship (or Middleton gets a vote for that honor) or not, he's more than proven his star status in this postseason. But Middleton has done enough to get in the conversation. And the block he had on Deandre Ayton's alley-oop attempt late in Game 4 is an all-time Finals moment. His 32.2 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists are absurd. If the Bucks wind up winning the series, Giannis Antetokounmpo will almost certainly win the Finals MVP. Every other player in the Finals has combined for 13. For the series, he's putting up 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.4 dimes and 3.0 threes.Īnd most impressively, he has 14 points in the clutch (defined by the league as the final five minutes of fourth quarters and overtimes that are within five points). In the end, Middleton had 29 points, seven boards and five assists.
#Khris middleton stats game 6 free
He also scored the final point of the game on a free throw with 9.8 seconds left. up 6 with 1:45 left.Īll six of those points were critical, as Phoenix whittled the lead all the way down to one. Middleton is coming off one of his worst seasons to date, shooting a career-low 43.6 percent from the field and 31.5 percent from 3-point range while being sidelined for much of the season with knee issues.Īside from Middleton, the Kings could target Kyle Kuzma, Draymond Green, Brook Lopez and others as they hope to push last season's success and reach that next level.Khris Middleton has 28 in the game and is 3-4 in the 4Q. Milwaukee still has championship aspirations with NBA phenom Giannis Antetokounmpo under contract for at least two more seasons and is motivated to bring Middleton back. The Kings, fresh off a historic season in which they snapped their 17-year playoff drought, are on the hunt for a power forward to pair with Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis in their attempt to make a deep postseason run.ĭrafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2013, Middleton was traded to the Bucks in 2014 and has been there ever since. The 31-year-old still could return to Milwaukee on a new deal, and Rohrbach believes Sacramento's interest in the forward will only drive up his price. Middleton declined his $40.4 million player option for next season with the Milwaukee Bucks and will become an unrestricted free agent.
