Giannis leads Bucks to blowout win over Suns in Game 3 of NBA Finals

July 11 (UPI) -- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 41 points to guide the Milwaukee Bucks to a dominant 120-100 win over the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night at Fiserv Forum in Wisconsin.

In the first Finals game in Milwaukee since 1974, Antetokounmpo took advantage of a smaller Suns lineup and wreaked havoc in the paint with deadly efficiency, shooting 14 of 23 from the floor to go with 13 rebounds and six assists. He also sank 13 of his 17 free throws.

"We knew what type of game it was going to be," said Antetokounmpo, who had 42 points and 12 rebounds in Game 2. "We knew we had to come here, play good basketball and compete as hard as possible."

Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Wednesday night in Milwaukee. The Suns still hold a 2-1 lead in the championship series.

Chris Paul had 19 points and nine assists for the Suns, who struggled to produce from 3-point range. Jae Crowder notched 18 points on 6 of 7 shooting from 3-point territory, but the rest of Phoenix's lineup combined to go 3 for 24 from deep.

Paul's star backcourt mate, Devin Booker, was 3 for 14 from the floor and scored just 10 points. Suns star center Deandre Ayton, meanwhile, was in foul trouble for much of the game, ending with 18 points and nine rebounds in only 24 minutes.

Cameron Johnson had 14 points and five boards off the bench, including a massive dunk over Bucks forward P.J. Tucker near the midway point in the third quarter.

Jrue Holiday bounced back from two poor performances in Phoenix with five 3-pointers and 21 points. He shot 50% from deep and added nine assists.

"We knew what we had to do," Holiday said. "We've been in this position before. We knew what this game meant to us and meant to the city."

Khris Middleton recorded 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Bucks, while Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez each scored 11.

With the victory, the Bucks -- who suffered losses in the first two games against the Brooklyn Nets in the second round -- avoided falling into a 3-0 hole in the Finals, a deficit that no NBA team has escaped.