Pat Connaughton on the Milwaukee Bucks' gritty stand against the powerhouse Phoenix Suns

The Milwaukee Bucks entered their match-up against the vaunted Phoenix Suns without two starters as Damian Lillard was nursing a sprained ankle while Brook Lopez was tending to the birth of his child. Late in the first quarter, All-Star wingman Khris Middleton also exited the game for good, suffering a sprained ankle when he landed on Suns forward Kevin Durant's foot while shooting a jumper.

Milwaukee could have easily told themselves it wasn't their night and succumbed to the star-studded Suns. However, they did just the opposite. The Bucks dug deep, relying on their gritty defense and unrelenting effort to keep them in the game. And though the Bucks eventually faltered, 114-106, Connaughton spoke about his team's resilience and refusal to make excuses despite missing key players.

Bucks DNA

For the Bucks, it's either a win or a loss; there aren't gray areas, especially when the endgame is an NBA championship. The nine-year pro credits the team's fierce mentality to the core leaders, Giannis, Khris, Brook, and even Jrue Holiday—the team's former lead guard, who was traded away in the offseason.

"We have guys that, when they go out there, they want to put their best foot forward, they want to win, and they'll do it for an entire 48 minutes," Connaughton, who had 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists, said.

"And I think that's part of the DNA, part of the culture that we have."