The Atlanta Hawks also won the second duel with the Milwaukee Bucks in Abu Dhabi. Trae Young really catches fire and gives the Giannis-less Bucks one threesome after the other.
Milwaukee Bucks (0-3) – Atlanta Hawks (2-0) 109:118 (BOXSCORE)
Game two of the Abu Dhabi Games 2022 and at the end of the NBA’s guest appearance in the United Arab Emirates, Trae Young burned off another threesome fireworks: 31 points at 7/9 from a distance – below some very deep triples and a total of 11/15 FG – plus 6 assists. And all of that in just one half.
After 20 minutes of action, Young was over after the 24-year-old was red hot, especially in the second quarter. In that round alone he hit 5/5 from Downtown and scored 19 points, but went into half-time with just a small lead. Only after the change of sides did the Hawks pull away.
Now without Young, John Collins (6 points, 3/6 FG in 19 minutes) and Dejounte Murray, who was completely rested after his strong Hawks debut, Atlanta started the third quarter with a 10-1 run and later sat the Hawks down to 23 points. De’Andre Hunter did a very good job with 21 points (9/13 FG), AJ Griffin (13, 3/5 three-pointers) and Onyeka Okongwu (12, 4 rebounds and 3 assists) also knew how to convince.
It wasn’t until both coaches emptied their bench towards the end of the game that Milwaukee did some cosmetic work, thanks largely to Lindell Wigginton (16, 4/6 FG), who plays on a two-way contract. Behind them were Bobby Portis (15) and Jrue Holiday (12 and 4 assists, 4/11 FG) the top Bucks scorers.
Meanwhile, franchise star Giannis Antetokounmpo got a break, in the first duel with the Hawks he was still looking for his groove. He can continue this search back in the USA, next week the Bucks are guests in Chicago before the last preseason game in front of their home crowd against Brooklyn. The Hawks face the Cavs and Pelicans before the start of the season on October 18.