After the All-Star break, Major League Baseball returns and the NBA finals continue, after Milwaukee evened up the series at home.

NBA Finals

The NBA Finals return to Phoenix after the Bucks evened up the series at two games apiece. The Phoenix Suns were ready to take the NBA Championship, up 2-1 and ahead in Game 4 after 3 quarters, but a monster 33 point, fourth quarter for the Bucks turned a six point deficit into a 6 point win. Game 5 tips off on Saturday night at 9PM in Phoenix. The Suns are 4 point favorites with a total of 218 at BetAnySports and most outlets in Vegas.

After two 40 point games, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 on Thursday night, but Chris Middleton was on fire with 40 points, including 10 straight down the stretch to complete Milwaukee's comeback. Giannis' point total for Game 5 is down a point, to 33.5, while Middleton sits at a comfortable 25.5 for the Saturday matchup.

The two teams have won both of their games at home in this series and the Suns are 6-3 when playing at Phoenix Suns Arena. But  to continue this trend, they will need star point guard Chis Paul to step up his game. After some excellent play earlier in these playoffs, his production has dropped significantly in every game in the Finals. He had only 10 points on Thursday night to go with 5 turnovers. His point total for Saturday's matchup is 21.5. In the two home games this series he's put in 32 and 23 and the Sun won't be able to win without a big effort from Paul.

MLB Returns

The second half of the MLB season was supposed to start yesterday, but the lone game, Yankees/Red Sox, was cancelled when several Yankees players, including All-Star Aaron Judge, tested positive for Covid-19. Bettors should keep an eye on the MLB Coronavirus situation as Judge was in Colorado with representatives from every team present. According to ESPN the Yankees/Sox game will be played Friday night and the Yanks are somehow favored at home, despite going 0-2 at home when Domingo German starts.

Milwaukee heads to Cincinnati this weekend for a three game series between the top two teams in the NL Central. The Brew Crew got swept by the Reds at home prior to the All-Star break, but have won seven straight when tonight's starter, Adrian Houser, takes the hill. The Reds are -125 favorites for tonight's game at BetOnline. These two faced each other on July 8th and that's the last time the Brewers won. 

The surprising Chicago White Sox host the Houston Astros in a battle of top AL teams. Houston looks ready to go for this series with Lance McCullers, Jake Odorizzi and Framber Valdez slated to start. The ChiSox start Dylan Cease on Friday night and they have won 7 out of his eight starts at home this year. They are +115 underdogs at most of the top online sportsbooks, and who doesn't love a home dog.