Hawks – Bucks 121-114: Milwaukee ‘revived’ Atlanta.

The Bucks found their 46th game of the regular season in Atlanta, where they finished last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. Against the Hawks, who suffered ten home defeats in a row from November 22nd, but played motivated this time, they used the “dead” breaks of the champions and prevailed with 121:114 to celebrate a result that is definitely more needed than their opponents .

At 27-19, Milwaukee (14-8 home and 13-11 away) looking forward to the return of Jro Holliday. The Bucks relied on the impressive Chris Middleton (34 points, 7/13 two points, 4/9 three points, 8/8 shots, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks but also eight errors), while Giannis Antetokounbo He was off target (27 points, 7/17 two points, 1/3 three points, 10/14 shots, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) but he had plenty of potential assists that found irons. With the exception of Bobby Portis (13 points, 13 rebounds) and the outbursts of DiVincenzo – Conaton, who together scored 7/12 three points, the champions have nothing to hide from this game. Movement of the ball was good but they lacked the determination, consistency and a big shot or two to win at a home where they know how to win.

At 18-25 the Hawks (9-11 home and 9-14 away) who needed a great result to “come out”. The crowd supported them impressively despite Atlanta’s ten-game losing streak, the top five had double-digit points, Trey Young (30 points, 7/17 shots, 14/14 shots, 11 assists for three errors), DiAndre Hunter (20 points , 9 rebounds) and John Collins (16 points, 12 rebounds) stood out, Danilo Galinari was also great with 16 points coming off the bench with 3/3 two points, 1/2 three points and 7/8 shots! The ten fewer fouls and eight more shots played their part in the Falcons’ 33, 33, and 38 points over the past three seasons.

Next game for the Bucks, in the early hours of Thursday, with the impressive Memphis Grizzlies (03:00) at the Fiserv Forum.

The race

The Hawks’ start was heartbreaking, scoring four points (2/12 shots) in the first five minutes of the game. The Bucks took the lead early and maintained a nearly ten point difference as Allen, Middleton and Portis shared attacks and John nailed John Collins in the face! The 17-26 of the season was largely the result of the home team’s 2/13 three-pointers, while Middleton played as if they were continuing last year’s finals streak in the region.

After Khash scored in spurts, the Bucks went to 10 (32-22) before Herter and Young answered, but DiVincenzo followed up with three points from Antetokunbo’s assists for 29-40. John played confidently, those around him followed, Atlanta insisted on the long shot without justification, but stayed close. A three-pointer from Allen from above and one from Matthews from the left corner scored nine more three minutes before the half 46-54 in which the Falcons had 7/21 three-pointers while the Hirsch had 10 points in open field from the hosts.

With Middleton unbeatable early in the second half, the Bucks kept their opponents at a safe distance. The movement of the ball was excellent, the shots at least didn’t go in the percentage that the creator Giannis wanted, but the Hawks’ game didn’t change. They didn’t have consistency, they made slight mistakes, they didn’t use the energy and intensity of the champions who constantly found the extra pass, the offensive rebound, the basket to respond and stay in a two or three possession difference.

A three-pointer from Middleton (86-95) and two shots from Antetokunbo immediately after took the Bucks to 11 points with nine minutes left in the final, followed by a good reaction from the Hawks that reduced Herter’s three-pointers to three (97-100) down the middle the fourth period. They took the lead with a Galinari three in the 43rd minute (104-103) before Young scored to make it 111-105, Portis responded in the same way to make it 111-108 and Okongu returned five points to the hosts who scored the goal completed their first home win since November 22 with a basket from DiAndre Hunter.

THE TWELVE MINUTES: 17-26, 50-62, 83-88, 121-114

ATLANTA CROUCH (Nate McMillan): Hunter 20 (4/11 two points, 2/6 three points, 6/6 shots, 9 rebounds, 2 assists), Collins 16 (3/9 three points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks) , Okongu 12 (6/9 two points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks), Herter 13 (3 three points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals), Yang 30 (5/11 two points, 2/6 three Points, 14/14 shots, 4 rebounds, 11 assists), Wright 6 (2), Galinari 16 (3/3 two points, 1/2 three points, 7/8 shots), Williams 8 (2), Luigouagu-Cabaro

MILGUOKI BUKS (Mike Budenholzer): Middleton 34 (7/13 two points, 4/9 three points, 8/8 shots, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 8 errors), Antitokunbo 27 (7/17 two points, 1/3 three points, 10/14 shots, 6 rebounds, 6 assists), Portis 13 (1 three points, 13 rebounds), Allen 9 (1), Hill 5 (1), DiVincenzo 9 (3/7 three points) , Conaton 14 (4/5 threes, 6 rebounds), Matthews 3 (1), Nuora

Atlanta Hawks team stats: 23/50 two points, 15/36 three points, 30/32 shots, 57 rebounds, 25 assists, 7 steals, 7 blocks, 13 errors, 18 fouls

Milwaukee Bucks team stats: 23/50 two points, 16/38 three points, 20/24 shots, 46 rebounds, 21 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, 13 errors, 28 fouls