The Atlanta Hawks hosted the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday evening in what will be the first side of a back-to-back. Atlanta will head north following the game to take on the Detroit Pistons Monday night. The Hawks were able to pull off another comeback, beating the Bucks 111-104 after a fourth quarter three-point barrage.
Atlanta got Clint Capela back Sunday, and he was a big part of their plan in guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo, to no one’s surprise. He started the game guarding the two-time MVP and spent most of his 34 minutes battling the superstar.
The Bucks took the lead into the second quarter after closing the first on a 10-3 run. The Hawks led earlier in the first, but struggled offensively as they scored just 10 points in the last 6:28 of play in the first.
It was a sloppy first half in some ways, which might not be the most surprising thing considering the Bucks played on Saturday and the Hawks are missing their best player and lead offensive initiator in Trae Young.
Outside of Kevin Huerter and Bogdan Bogdanovic, no one really had it going early for Atlanta. That tandem combined for 25 of Atlanta’s first 37 points.
The Hawks really scuffled outside of those two guys, especially in the second quarter. Atlanta scored just 17 points in the second and two points in the final 4:08 of the first half.
The Bucks led 51-43 at the break behind standout play from Antetokounmpo and Holiday. The Hawks shot just 38% from the floor and 26.3% (5-of-19) from three in the first half. It was a tight game until the final few minutes of the second quarter, when Atlanta effectively stopped scoring.
Milwaukee held their ground as the Hawks attempted to close the gap early in the third, leading 60-54 with 8:16 remaining in the quarter after a pair of three throws from John Collins.
The Bucks maintained their lead late into the third, edging Atlanta 68-61 with 3:59 remaining in the quarter. The Hawks kept fighting, but ultimately could not make up any ground on Milwaukee in the third as they trailed 78-70 heading to the fourth quarter after a deadlocked 27-27 third quarter.
Atlanta mounted something of rally in the fourth, cutting the deficit to just three with 8:45 remaining in the fourth.
The Hawks led momentarily after a three-pointer from Lou Williams with 6:59 to go, but the Bucks would regain the lead on the next possession. Williams hit another three moments later, as the two teams began to go back and forth down the stretch.
Williams had seven points in essentially 90 seconds, and the Hawks led 92-89 with 5:07 to play. Bogdanovic also had big three-pointers in this stretch, continuing to be a stablizing force for Atlanta’s offense.
Williams and Bogdanovic powered Atlanta’s 15-3 run. Overall, the pair combined for seven consecutive made three pointers. The rain didn’t stop there, and the Hawks took home the 111-104 win. Atlanta outscored Milwaukee 41-26 in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks will be back in action Monday night on the road vs. the Detroit Pistons.