Atlanta Hawks steal home-court advantage with Game 1 win – Grades
The Atlanta Hawks went into hostile territory and took Game 1 once again, pulling off the upset.
For the third time in three series, the Atlanta Hawks have stolen home-court advantage by winning Game 1. The win brings their record to 9-4, second-best in the postseason behind only to the 10-2 Phoenix Suns. It’s also their first time in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2015 and their head coach’s first time ever in that role.
Trae Young set a new playoff career-high with his 48 points and kept making history as well, scoring the most points in a playoff game for the Hawks since Dominque Wilkins among other things. It was a banner night for the emerging superstar. It was said by the broadcast team multiple times but also reaffirmed by Young with his play.
116. 125. 113. 89. Final
The Atlanta Hawks used a complete team effort to take Game 1 in Milwaukee
It was a team effort by the Hawks as Nate McMillan pulled all the right strings. Even when the Bucks took a seven-point lead it felt like a one-possession game. 19 lead changes will do that. It also may have kept the Bucks from stomping the gas as the Hawks never seemed to press the issue outside of Young pulling (and missing on) some deep threes.
When Young went cold in the fourth, his teammates stepped up and outperformed their counterparts, as we expected. What was unexpected was the solid minutes by the Hawks’ 12th man. It’s that kind of depth (and how McMillan uses it) that has made this team so dangerous from game to game.
The largest lead was that seven by Milwaukee but Atlanta spent much of the night erasing similar leads in the blink of an eye, just as they have done with much deficits far greater throughout the playoffs. When Young went cold in the fourth quarter, his teammates stepped up, with John Collins and Clint Capela scoring 17 of the Hawks 28 points in the frame. On to the grades!