Wisconsin native Jalen Johnson scored 23 points and De’Andre Hunter added 20 to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 119-104 win at Milwaukee, ending the Bucks’ seven-game winning streak.
Once again, the Hawks got scoring from many different places, with eight players scoring at least eight. Clint Capela grabbed 17 rebounds with his eight points, while Johnson grabbed 13 as Atlanta earned a fifth straight win.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points and 11 boards. Damian Lillard added 25 points and five assists.
The Bucks started out strong in this one, getting a lead as high as 10 in the first quarter, but the Hawks stormed back.
Atlanta used a 9-0 run to take a 3-point lead into the second and kept the momentum going. The Hawks led 70-59 at the halftime break.
Bogdanovic led the way with 13 while Johnson had 12 at halftime. Antetokounmpo had 19 for Milwaukee, with nine of those being from the free-throw line.
Atlanta got out on the break in the half, scoring 26 points on the fast break compared to seven for Milwaukee. Nine Bucks turnovers helped that cause as well as Milwaukee missing 13 of their 21 3-point attempts.
Atlanta grew a lead as high as 20 points in the third quarter.
The Bucks did respond and get closer, thanks to a 12-0 run with four consecutive 3-pointers. That brought them within eight with 3:33 to go in the third.
From there though, Milwaukee couldn’t capitalize on its opportunities. The Hawks quickly grew another double-digit advantage and didn’t look back, cruising the rest of the way.
The Bucks committed 18 turnovers on the night while Atlanta also dominated the glass, grabbing 55 boards compared to Milwaukee’s 40.
Milwaukee’s seven-game win streak was the longest active streak in the NBA.
There is a possibility these teams could play again on Dec. 15 in NBA Cup play, depending on how each perform in their quarterfinal matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
–Field Level Media
