The 2021 NBA Finals are set to go now! This year's NBA Finals will feature Khris Middleton and the Eastern Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks and Devin Booker and the Western Conference Champion Phoenix Suns. The Bucks are in the NBA's championship round for the first time since 1974 (when they lost to Boston in 7 games), and seeking their first NBA championship since 1971. Meanwhile, the Suns are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993 (when they lost to Chicago in 6 games, as the Bulls completed the first of their two three-peats). The Suns are attempting to win their first NBA title in their third trip to the NBA Finals.
In order to make the 2021 NBA Finals, the No. 3 seed in the East, Bucks, defeated Miami in the first round 4-0. Then, Milwaukee defeated Brooklyn in the semifinals 4-3. Finally, the Bucks knocked off the Hawks 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In order to make the 2021 NBA Finals, the No. 2 seed in the West, Suns, ousted the defending NBA Champion Lakers in the first round 4-2. Following that, the Suns swept Denver in the semifinals 4-0. In the Western Conference Finals, the Suns outlasted the Clippers 4-2.
Keep in mind that the Bucks and Suns were expansion cousins. This means that Milwaukee & Phoenix had their franchises begin in the 1968-69 season.
Of course, the Bucks & Suns were involved in a coin toss the 1969 NBA draft to pick first, which Milwaukee won (and selected UCLA center Lew Alcindor [now known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]).
Once again, ABC will televise the NBA Finals. This year is the 19th straight year that ABC has televised the series.
The series will begin on Tuesday, July 6th as the Bucks travel to Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix to visit the Suns. The Suns will have home court advantage in the series. All games will tip off shortly after 9 PM ET, with the exception of Game 3 on Sunday, July 11, which will tip off shortly after 8 PM ET.
Mike Breen, calling his 16th NBA Finals, will call the Milwaukee vs. Phoenix series for ABC, with analysts Jeff Van Gundy (15th) and Mark Jackson (13th). Malika Andrews (1st), a 2017 graduate of the University of Portland, is promoted for the sideline reporter job (replacing originally scheduled sideline reporter Rachel Nichols), obviously covering her 1st NBA Finals with the broadcast team.
The Bucks-Suns series schedule is featured below:
2021 NBA Finals TV Schedule and Announcers:
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns == Milwaukee wins series, 4-2 (Congratulations, Bucks, on the team's first championship since 1971!)
* Tuesday, July 6th
. Game 1 - Bucks vs. Suns - ABC, 9:00 p.m. - Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Malika Andrews
* Thursday, July 8th
. Game 2 - Bucks vs. Suns - ABC, 9:00 p.m. - Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Malika Andrews
* Sunday, July 11th
. Game 3 - Suns vs. Bucks - ABC, 8:00 p.m. - Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Malika Andrews
* Wednesday, July 14th
. Game 4 - Suns vs. Bucks - ABC, 9:00 p.m. - Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Malika Andrews
* Saturday, July 17th
. Game 5 - Bucks vs. Suns - ABC, 9:00 p.m. - Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Malika Andrews
* Tuesday, July 20th
. Game 6 - Suns vs. Bucks - ABC, 9:00 p.m. - Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Malika Andrews
