Bucks vs Hawks: Game Thread – Lou Williams OUT
By David Menze
Atlanta Hawks reserve combo guard Lou Williams had a great game in Milwaukee on Jan. 25, 2014, finishing with 18 points and 5 assists. (Photo Credit: Gary Dineen)
Game Preview
After getting a much-needed win Monday night to cap off a grueling five-game West Coast swing, the Hawks are hoping to carry that momentum over to tonight’s game as they return to Atlanta to host former coach Larry Drew and the last-place Milwaukee Bucks.
The Hawks were 0-4 on the road trip before Monday’s finale at Utah, and were on a six-game losing streak overall. Even worse, they had not won on the road in 10 straight matches and dropped 14 of their last 15 heading into the Jazz game. But thankfully the team salvaged the road trip, squeaking out a 112-110 victory.
Now Atlanta, who is currently clinging onto the final playoff spot in the East by 3 games, looks to right the ship for a stretch run, and winning at home tonight to go a two-game winning streak would be incredibly uplifting for team morale.
In other Hawks-related news, combo guard Lou Williams missed shootaround today for “exciting family news” and is out for tonight’s game.
Quick Facts
Who?: Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks
What?: Reunion of Sorts, Part 2 (Game #63, Home Game #29)
Where?: Philips Arena (Atlanta, GA)
When?: Thursday, March 13, 2014 – 7:30 PM (ET)
How?: SportSouth HD TV / 92.9 FM
Probable Starters
Atlanta Hawks:
PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Kyle Korver | SF: DeMarre Carroll | PF: Paul Millsap | C: Pero Antic
Milwaukee Bucks:
PG: Nate Wolters | SG: Brandon Knight | SF: Khris Middleton | PF: Ersan Ilyasova | C: Zaza Pachulia
Injury Report
Atlanta Hawks: Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder surgery), Al Horford (right pectoral muscle surgery) and John Jenkins (lower back surgery) are out.
Milwaukee Bucks: Carlos Delfino (right foot surgery) and Larry Sanders (fractured orbital bone) are out.
Current Records, Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold
Records: Milwaukee Bucks (13-51) / Atlanta Hawks (27-35)
Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Won 1 | HOME: Lost 1 | ROAD: Won 1 Milwaukee Bucks –> OVERALL: Won 1 | HOME: Won 2 | ROAD: Won 1
Home/Away Records: Hawks are (17-11) at home / Bucks are (5-25) on the road.
Atlanta Hawks: Lukewarm. The Hawks finally got a win Monday night, beating the Jazz to snap a 10-game road losing streak and a six-game skid overall following a nightmare six-game road trip. They get rewarded for the tough trip with a walk in the park tonight against Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Bucks: Ice Cold. The Bucks are the worst team in the NBA; only have 13 wins through 64 games.
Series Notes/Past Series Notes
Atlanta hosts the Bucks for the only time this season in the second-of-three games between the clubs. The Hawks were victorious in Milwaukee on 1/25 (112-87). Paul Millsap scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Atlanta. Brandon Knight scored a game-high 27 points for the Bucks. The Hawks own a five-game overall win-streak in the series and have beaten the Bucks four straight times in Atlanta. Milwaukee’s last victory over Atlanta came on 3/27/12 (108-101) at home, while the Bucks’ most recent road triumph over the Hawks came on 11/10/10 (108-92). The Hawks lead the all-time series 101-99, including a 65-35 mark at home
LAST MEETING — HAWKS 112, BUCKS 87 — MILWAUKEE, WI — 1/25/14
A 12-2 run helped Atlanta to grab a 31-25 lead after one, and the Hawks kept rolling in the second, pushing the advantage to 60-45 at the break. Atlanta put it away in the third, outscoring the Bucks 26-8 over the first seven minutes of the stanza. The Hawks took their biggest lead of the night, 110-76, with just under five minutes to play in the game. All 11 Hawks that dressed scored at least two points, paced by Paul Millsap’s 20 points and eight rebounds. Lou Williams added 18 points, Mike Scott 14, Kyle Korver 12, DeMarre Carroll 12 and Elton Brand 10. Atlanta recorded advantages of 26-12 in points off turnovers and 24-14 in fast break points. For the game, the Hawks shot .526 FG% (40-76), .500 3FG% (13-26) and .760 FT% (19-25), while Milwaukee managed .463 FG% (38-82), .238 3FG% (5-21) and .462 FT% (6-13). The Bucks also turned it over 20 times compared to 13 for the visitors. Brandon Knight scored 27 points for Milwaukee and Ersan Ilyasova (11 points/13 rebounds) and John Henson (10 points/10 boards) had double-doubles.
Common Threads
Gustavo Ayon played 12 games for the Bucks last year. Hawks Assistant Coach Darvin Ham played three seasons in Milwaukee (1999-02). Bucks Head Coach Larry Drew is a former Hawks Assistant (2004-10) and Head Coach (2010-13), accumulating 128 wins in the top spot. Zaza Pachulia played 556 games over eight seasons in Atlanta. Bucks Assistant Coaches Bob Bender and Nick Van Exel are both former Hawks Assistants. O.J. Mayo has been teammates with Elton Brand with Dallas in 2012-13, and DeMarre Carroll in Memphis (2009-part of 2010-11).
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Information was used from the Hawks and Bucks official gamenotes
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