Giannis Antetokounmpo is no longer limping, and neither are the Milwaukee Bucks.
Behind a game-high 41 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists from the two-time league MVP, the Bucks trounced the Phoenix Suns, 120-100, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, narrowing the Suns' series lead to 2-1. According to StatMuse, Antetokounmpo became just the second player in Finals history to record 40-plus points and 10-plus rebounds in consecutive games.
So, with Antetokounmpo performing at an exceptionally high level -- and his hyperextended left knee injury undetectable -- are the Bucks now capable of making the Suns sweat? Is their recent success sustainable?
"It could be, if they continue to play together," former NBA player and current CBS Sports analyst Ryan Hollins told the Tiki and Tierney show on Monday. "Now, the questions are, where are the adjustments with that Giannis-Middleton pick-and-roll -- are [the Suns] going to trap it? Are they going to switch it? Are they going to play coverage, where they show and recover? They've got to figure that out because Giannis is showing that he's a dynamic roller. And when he rolls to the rim, he's something to be reckoned with. So, I think that's going to be the adjustment.
"Because I'm going to tell you one thing: [Suns head coach] Monty Williams is going to make adjustments. Now, the question is, is [Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer] going to make adjustments. And that's something we haven't seen. There's a bit of arrogance there with their coaching staff to just say, 'Oh, we're good. We don't need to make these big-time adjustments that everybody else makes. We can just come out and be the best version of ourselves.' We will see if Bud can go against the Coach of the Year. And yeah, Monty Williams should've been the Coach of the Year. You're seeing it now."
Through three Finals games, Antetokounmpo is averaging a team-high 29.2 points in 37.4 minutes, with 12.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists. His 103 total points in the series ranks fourth-most all-time by a player in his first three career Finals games, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series will take place Wednesday in Milwaukee, with tipoff scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. According to FiveThirtyEight projections, the Bucks currently have a 26-percent chance of winning the title.
The entire NBA Finals conversation between Hollins and Tiki and Tierney can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Tiki and Tierney Show on Twitter @TikiAndTierney and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.