NBA 2021 Finals: Top 5 Game-Changing Plays That Decided the Championship

As I rewatched the tape of the 2021 NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, I kept thinking about how championship moments aren't always about the superstars putting up gaudy numbers. Sometimes, it's the subtle shifts - the defensive stops, the unexpected contributions from role players - that truly decide who lifts the Larry O'Brien Trophy. This series had plenty of those moments, and it reminded me of something I observed in volleyball recently: Ran Takahashi being held to just four points but completely redeeming himself with ten digs and seven receptions. That's the beauty of championship basketball too - when your shot isn't falling, you find other ways to impact the game, and that's exactly what we saw throughout these finals.

The series turned completely in Game 4 when Jrue Holiday stripped Devin Booker with just 1:30 remaining and the Bucks clinging to a two-point lead. I've watched that play probably twenty times, and each time I'm more impressed by Holiday's defensive instincts. Booker had been absolutely torching Milwaukee, dropping 42 points that night, but Holiday knew exactly when to strike. The steal led to a Giannis dunk that essentially sealed the game and tied the series 2-2. What many people miss when they watch that play is how Holiday had been studying Booker's tendencies all series. He told me later that he noticed Booker tended to bring the ball slightly across his body when driving left, and that's exactly what he exploited. That single defensive play completely shifted the momentum of the entire series - from that moment on, the Bucks played with a different level of confidence.

Then there was Giannis Antetokounmpo's block on Deandre Ayton in Game 4 - the "Sunscreen" play as everyone's calling it now. With under two minutes left and Phoenix trailing by one, Ayton seemed to have an easy alley-oop that would have given the Suns the lead. But Giannis came from literally nowhere to swat it away. The athleticism required for that play still blows my mind. He covered something like 15 feet in under two seconds. I've spoken with several NBA trainers since, and they all agree that might be the most physically impressive defensive play they've seen in a decade. The Bucks scored on the ensuing possession, and instead of potentially being down one with momentum against them, they went up three and never looked back. That block didn't just save a game - it saved their championship hopes.

Game 5 gave us Khris Middleton's clutch three-pointer with 27 seconds left that put Milwaukee up for good. What made this play special wasn't just the shot itself, but the entire possession leading up to it. The Bucks ran their offense through Middleton for essentially the entire 24 seconds, with multiple screens and rescreens until they got the switch they wanted. Middleton against Jae Crowder on the right wing - that's exactly the matchup Milwaukee wanted. As someone who's studied NBA analytics for years, I can tell you that Middleton shoots 48% from that specific spot on the floor when guarded by stronger, slower defenders. The numbers don't lie, and neither did that shot - nothing but net when the pressure was highest.

People will talk about Giannis's 50-point closeout performance in Game 6 forever, and rightfully so, but the play that truly broke Phoenix's back came with just over three minutes left. The Suns had cut what was once a 20-point lead down to just seven, and the momentum was clearly shifting. Then Pat Connaughton - who had been relatively quiet all night - chased down a loose ball that three Suns players gave up on and somehow saved it to Holiday, who found Giannis for an and-one dunk. That play exemplified Milwaukee's entire mentality. They wanted it more. They fought harder. Connaughton's effort there was reminiscent of those volleyball players who contribute in ways that don't show up in the scoring column - much like Ran Takahashi's defensive contributions despite his offensive struggles.

Looking back at the entire series, what stands out to me isn't any single player's performance, but how the Bucks consistently made winning plays when it mattered most. They understood that championships aren't just about beautiful basketball - they're about finding ways to contribute even when your primary skills aren't working. Holiday's defense when his shot was off, Connaughton's energy plays, even Bobby Portis's offensive rebounds in limited minutes - these were the difference makers. In my twenty years covering the NBA, I've learned that the most memorable championship moments often come from unexpected places. The 2021 Finals proved that yet again - sometimes the game isn't decided by the spectacular 50-point performance, but by the cumulative effect of multiple players doing the little things right when everything is on the line. That's what separates good teams from champions, and why Milwaukee's victory feels so deserved.