Turning point for the Hawks? Maybe. After five consecutive losses, they received Milwaukee on Martin Luther King Day. It was an important night and game. They reissued the last Eastern Conference finals and needed to show that they are still that team. They made it.
With Trae Young in the lead –30 points led to his signature–, Atlanta knew how to stay in the game despite being behind almost all the time, and the fact is that the Bucks were ahead from the first minute of the match until only four remained. For the Georgians it was an exercise in survival. With seven minutes remaining they were down by 10 points, but they didn’t give up. They bit into the scoreboard until they took their first lead of the night four minutes from the end (104-103). From that moment they knew how to handle the last plays better to close their comeback with the final 121-114.
“It all starts with believing that you can do it. You have to believe that you can win a match. I think we had some doubts about that,” says Nate McMillan.
Young, leader of the Hawks, had the collaboration of De’Andre Hunter’s 20 points, as well as the double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds signed by John Collins and the 16 points added by Danilo Gallinari off the bench. The Italian managed some extremely important baskets in full comeback of the locals.
Disappointment in Milwaukee
The Bucks, a team used to winning, now have four losses in the last five games. They are only two games behind first-place Chicago, but are still fifth in the Eastern Conference at 27-19. Bobby Portis knows that the situation is far from alarming, but losing doesn’t hurt him any less.
“We had to do a better job in the second half by going out to play urgently. These are important games. I know people say it doesn’t matter, but I want to win every game. I’m just disappointed at the moment”, says the power forward, author of a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Wisconsin’s leading scorer was Khris Middleton with 34 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo for his part closed his performance with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)