Atlanta Hawks Drop Sixth Straight Game to Surging Bucks
The Atlanta Hawks are in a total tailspin, losing their sixth straight game on Friday night when they fell to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
The Hawks just can’t buy a win.
Atlanta remained winless in games played without Paul Millsap this season when they traveled to Milwaukee and fell short to the Bucks by a 100-97 score. It was the team’s sixth straight loss overall and they are now even with the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Standings as both teams hold a 37-35 record.
Rising superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo threw the Bucks on his back, as he has so many times, to carry them to their 11th win in their last 13 games. ‘The Greek Freak’ finished with 34 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and two steals, in a stat-sheet-stuffing performance.
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But not all was bad for the Hawks in this game.
Dennis Schroder played better than he has in recent weeks and had some really good moments in this game. The young point guard led the Hawks with 28 points and also tallied seven rebounds, along with seven assists.
Two other Hawks scored 20-plus points in this game. Dwight Howard was a dominant force in the middle all night long. He scored 20 points (on 7-of-11 shooting) and grabbed 12 boards. Howard’s performance spearheaded a great night on the boards for the Hawks as they won the total rebound battle by 14.
Tim Hardaway Jr. pitched in a cool 25 points of his own. THJ was very dynamic and in both his rim attack and outside shooting.
But the bench was the Achilles heel for the Hawks in this contest. All five members of the Hawks starting five finished with positive plus-minus figures while all five bench players registered negative plus-minuses.
The Bucks bench outscored Atlanta’s reserves 31 to 12 on this night and swung the outcome of the game.
Yes, Antetokounmpo was dominant but the Hawks’ starting unit held strong as a group. Ersan Ilyasova and Thabo Sefolosha played well within their roles and glued the unit together. This was a winnable game for the Hawks. But the team just could not pull it out in a close game down the stretch.
While this was another loss for the Hawks, this game generated more positive signs. The bench will improve when Millsap and Kent Bazemore return from injury and allow the team to go back to its normal rotation. Schroder played better on this night and Howard was physically imposing in the paint.
Next: Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Matchup to Watch
The Hawks are not a good team right now. But they almost stole a road game against a red-hot team and they had a depleted roster. Things are looking up but the team will need better health before they start winning again.