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Without Giannis, Bucks beat Hawks 123-112 for 3-2 lead

AP
Jul 02, 2021

MILWAUKEE (AP) Even without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks figured out a way to end their recent habit of slow starts.

Now they're just one win away from finishing off the Atlanta Hawks and earning their first NBA Finals berth in nearly half a century.

Brook Lopez scored a playoff career-high 33 points to lead a balanced attack and the Bucks never trailed in a 123-112 victory over the Hawks on Thursday night that gave them a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

''It's exciting. But it's obviously not done,'' Lopez said. ''We need to bottle that energy and effort we had tonight and do it again in two days.''

The Bucks haven't reached the NBA Finals since 1974. They won their lone NBA title in 1971.

Milwaukee regained the lead in the series by grabbing a 30-10 lead Thursday and never trailing. That marked a notable change after the Bucks erased an early 15-point deficit in a 113-102 Game 3 victory and never led in a 110-88 Game 4 loss.

''It was one of the main priorities, just to be aggressive out of the gate, be the aggressor, be more aggressive than they were,'' Bucks guard Jrue Holiday said. ''We felt like those games in Atlanta, whether it was energy from the crowd or whatever it was, they swung and punched us in the mouth. We didn't want to take any chances. We wanted to come out strong and hit first.''

Game 6 is Saturday in Atlanta, with the winner of the series facing the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals.

Four of the Bucks' starters had at least 22 points: Lopez, Khris Middleton (26), Holiday (25) and Bobby Portis (22). Middleton also had 13 rebounds and eight assists. Holiday had 13 assists and six rebounds.

They all stepped up their game while Antetokounmpo watched from the bench with a hyperextended left knee. Each team was missing its biggest star, as Atlanta's Trae Young sat out a second straight game due to a bone bruise in his right foot.

Young got hurt when he accidentally stepped on an official's foot along the sideline in Game 3. Antetokounmpo landed awkwardly after trying to block Clint Capela's dunk attempt in Game 4.

Just as the Hawks' role players delivered with Young sidelined in Game 4, Antetokounmpo's teammates came through Thursday.

Portis took Antetokounmpo's spot in the starting lineup and had the Fiserv Forum fans chanting ''Bobby! Bobby!'' on multiple occasions, continuing something that started during Milwaukee's Game 2 blowout victory. Portis' 22 points were a playoff career high.

''Knowing the situation we were in, one of the best players in the world went down on our team,'' Portis said. ''So other guys had to step up. Guys stepped up and played their role to a `T.' ''

Bogdan Bogdanovic led the Hawks with 28 points. Atlanta also got 19 points each from John Collins and Danilo Gallinari, and 17 from Lou Williams.

The Bucks never trailed and led by as many as 20 in the first quarter, making most of their shots and getting second-chance opportunities on their rare misses. The game was nearly eight minutes old by the time Cam Reddish got Atlanta's first defensive rebound.

''They were the more physical, more aggressive team from start to finish tonight,'' Hawks coach Nate McMillan said.

Milwaukee led 36-22 after a first quarter in which the Bucks outscored the Hawks 28-8 in the paint. They ended the game with a 66-36 edge in the paint.

Atlanta cut the lead to 65-59 when Bogdanovic hit a 3-pointer to open the third-quarter scoring, but that's as close as the Hawks would get in the second half.

''We didn't match their intensity, their energy,'' Gallinari said. ''We definitely need to start the game better.''

This marked the second straight game in this series without any lead changes. The Hawks never trailed in Game 4.

TIP-INS

Hawks: McMillan said he expects Young to be a game-time decision on Saturday. ... Capela was in the starting lineup after being listed as questionable before the game due to inflammation in his right eye. Capela took an inadvertent elbow to the face from Milwaukee's Sam Merrill late in Game 4. He had six points and eight rebounds.

Bucks: During his pregame availability, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer offered no update on when Antetokounmpo might be able to return. Budenholzer said Antetokounmpo did some work in the weight room and training area but wasn't with his teammates on the court Thursday morning. . The Bucks made their first two 3-point attempts but missed their next 12 and finished 9 of 29.

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Follow Steve Megargee at https://twitter.com/stevemegargee

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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

1st Quarter
ATL
Hawks
22
MIL
Bucks
36

Time		Play	Score
12:00		Clint Capela vs. Brook Lopez (Lou Williams gains possession)
11:40		Hawks misses two point jump shot
11:31	+2	Jrue Holiday makes two point driving hook shot	0-2
10:59		P.J. Tucker defensive rebound
10:51	+3	Khris Middleton makes three point step back jump shot	0-5
10:02		Brook Lopez defensive rebound
9:36	+3	Bogdan Bogdanovic makes three point jump shot (Lou Williams assists)	5-10
9:22	+1	Brook Lopez makes regular free throw 1 of 2	5-11
9:22	+1	Brook Lopez makes regular free throw 2 of 2	5-12
9:03		John Collins misses two point turnaround jump shot
8:49		Bobby Portis misses two point jump shot
8:44		Bucks misses three point jump shot
8:41	+2	Bobby Portis makes two point putback layup	5-14
8:25		Kevin Huerter misses three point step back jump shot
8:19	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point layup (Jrue Holiday assists)	5-16
7:49		John Collins misses two point hook shot
7:49		Clint Capela offensive rebound
7:50		Bucks personal foul
7:50	+1	Clint Capela makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-16
7:50	+1	Clint Capela makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-16
7:24		Khris Middleton misses two point putback layup
7:21	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point jump shot	7-18
6:51		Clint Capela turnover (lost ball) (Brook Lopez steals)
6:16		Jrue Holiday misses three point jump shot
6:14		Khris Middleton offensive rebound
5:37		Bucks offensive rebound
5:37		Bucks offensive rebound
5:13		Onyeka Okongwu misses two point turnaround hook shot
5:09		Khris Middleton defensive rebound
4:34	+2	Jrue Holiday makes two point layup (Bobby Portis assists)	10-28
4:34	+2	Jrue Holiday makes two point layup (Bobby Portis assists)	10-28
4:13		Danilo Gallinari misses three point jump shot
4:12		P.J. Tucker defensive rebound
4:04		Bobby Portis misses two point floating jump shot
4:02		Cam Reddish defensive rebound
3:52		Cam Reddish misses two point driving layup
3:51		Bobby Portis defensive rebound
3:44		Onyeka Okongwu defensive rebound
3:33		Danilo Gallinari misses two point step back jump shot
3:33		Danilo Gallinari misses two point step back jump shot
3:32		Hawks offensive rebound
3:32		Onyeka Okongwu misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:31		Khris Middleton defensive rebound
3:18	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point dunk (Jrue Holiday assists)	10-30
2:58		Jrue Holiday shooting foul (Onyeka Okongwu draws the foul)
2:58	+1	Onyeka Okongwu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-30
2:58	+1	Onyeka Okongwu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-30
2:19		Hawks offensive rebound
2:19		Hawks offensive rebound
2:19		Khris Middleton personal foul (Loose ball) (Onyeka Okongwu draws the foul)
1:56		Brook Lopez turnover (lost ball) (Kris Dunn steals)
1:56		Brook Lopez turnover (lost ball) (Kris Dunn steals)
1:53		Kevin Huerter misses two point layup
1:51	+2	Onyeka Okongwu makes two point putback dunk	14-32
1:41		Jrue Holiday offensive rebound
1:41		Jrue Holiday offensive rebound
1:35		Jrue Holiday misses two point driving layup
1:35		Danilo Gallinari defensive rebound
1:28		Pat Connaughton shooting foul (Cam Reddish draws the foul)
1:28	+2	Cam Reddish makes two point floating jump shot	16-32
1:07		Cam Reddish turnover (lost ball) (Thanasis Antetokounmpo steals)
1:07		Cam Reddish turnover (lost ball) (Thanasis Antetokounmpo steals)
1:02		Bryn Forbes misses three point jump shot
1:02		Hawks defensive rebound
1:02		Pat Connaughton personal foul (Loose ball) (Danilo Gallinari draws the foul)
1:02	+1	Danilo Gallinari makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-32
1:02	+1	Danilo Gallinari makes regular free throw 1 of 2	18-32
0:32	+2	Bobby Portis makes two point floating jump shot	19-36
0:32	+2	Bobby Portis makes two point floating jump shot	19-36
0:18	+2	Danilo Gallinari makes two point floating jump shot	21-36
0:18		Thanasis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Danilo Gallinari draws the foul)
0:07		Kris Dunn personal foul (Jrue Holiday draws the foul)
0:00		Jrue Holiday misses three point step back jump shot
0:00		End of period

2nd Quarter
ATL
Hawks
31
MIL
Bucks
29

Time		Play	Score
11:41	+2	Bucks makes two point jump shot	22-38
11:25		Thanasis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Danilo Gallinari draws the foul)
11:25	+1	Danilo Gallinari makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-38
11:25	+1	Danilo Gallinari makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-38
11:01		Thanasis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Clint Capela draws the foul)
11:01		Clint Capela misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:01		Hawks offensive rebound
10:58		P.J. Tucker defensive rebound
10:51		Jeff Teague turnover (bad pass) (Cam Reddish steals)
10:47	+2	Cam Reddish makes two point dunk	26-40
10:32		Clint Capela blocks Jeff Teague's two point driving layup
10:24		Lou Williams misses two point step back jump shot
10:19		Clint Capela offensive rebound
10:19		Clint Capela misses two point jump shot
10:18		Khris Middleton defensive rebound
10:16		Khris Middleton misses three point jump shot
10:00	+2	Clint Capela makes two point dunk (Cam Reddish assists)	28-40
9:50		Cam Reddish personal foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul)
9:26	+2	Bobby Portis makes two point jump shot (Jeff Teague assists)	28-42
9:11		Danilo Gallinari turnover (bad pass) (Pat Connaughton steals)
9:03	+2	Bucks makes two point jump shot	28-44
8:32		Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point jump shot
8:29		Khris Middleton defensive rebound
8:26		Danilo Gallinari personal foul (Brook Lopez draws the foul)
8:11	+2	P.J. Tucker makes two point putback layup	30-46
7:52		John Collins misses two point turnaround jump shot
7:46	+2	Khris Middleton makes two point layup	30-46
7:34		Lou Williams turnover (lost ball) (P.J. Tucker steals)
7:34		Lou Williams turnover (bad pass) (P.J. Tucker steals)
7:27		Kevin Huerter personal foul (Take) (Khris Middleton draws the foul)
7:27		Kevin Huerter personal foul (Take) (Khris Middleton draws the foul)
7:11		John Collins defensive rebound
6:54		Bucks 60 second timeout
6:41	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point jump shot (Khris Middleton assists)	33-50
6:19	+2	Bogdan Bogdanovic makes two point step back jump shot (Lou Williams assists)	35-50
6:10		Clint Capela blocks Jrue Holiday's two point jump shot
6:06		John Collins defensive rebound
5:52	+2	Lou Williams makes two point floating jump shot (Kevin Huerter assists)	37-50
5:32	+2	Khris Middleton makes two point driving layup	37-52
5:11		Khris Middleton misses three point jump shot
4:51		John Collins offensive rebound
4:49		John Collins misses two point putback layup
4:28	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point layup (Jrue Holiday assists)	39-54
4:09	+2	John Collins makes two point jump shot (Kevin Huerter assists)	41-54
3:55		Bryn Forbes misses three point jump shot
3:26		Jrue Holiday misses two point jump shot
3:15		Lou Williams turnover (lost ball) (Jrue Holiday steals)
3:16	+1	Jrue Holiday makes regular free throw 1 of 2	43-55
3:16		Jrue Holiday misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:02		Bobby Portis kicked ball violation
2:37	+2	Bobby Portis makes two point turnaround hook shot	46-57
2:19		P.J. Tucker defensive rebound
2:14		Bucks turnover
2:14		Hawks 60 second timeout
2:00		John Collins misses two point jump shot
1:57		Bogdan Bogdanovic offensive rebound
1:53	+3	Kevin Huerter makes three point jump shot (Bogdan Bogdanovic assists)	49-57
1:28		Khris Middleton offensive rebound
0:34	+3	Bucks makes three point jump shot	51-65
0:12	+2	Bogdan Bogdanovic makes two point driving layup	53-65
0:09		Jrue Holiday turnover (lost ball) (Cam Reddish steals)
0:04		Khris Middleton blocks John Collins's two point layup
0:00		End of period

3rd Quarter
ATL
Hawks
25
MIL
Bucks
26

Time		Play	Score
11:44		Khris Middleton misses three point jump shot
11:41		John Collins defensive rebound
11:08	+3	Jrue Holiday makes three point jump shot (Khris Middleton assists)	59-68
10:43	+2	Kevin Huerter makes two point fadeaway jump shot (John Collins assists)	61-68
10:16		Kevin Huerter misses three point jump shot
10:13		Bobby Portis defensive rebound
10:04		Bogdan Bogdanovic kicked ball violation
9:53	+2	Khris Middleton makes two point floating jump shot	61-70
9:27		Lou Williams turnover (Brook Lopez steals)
9:22		Kevin Huerter personal foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul)
9:07		Khris Middleton misses two point jump shot
9:07		Brook Lopez personal foul (Loose ball) (Bogdan Bogdanovic draws the foul)
8:54		Bogdan Bogdanovic misses two point jump shot
8:49		Clint Capela offensive rebound
8:47	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point turnaround hook shot (Khris Middleton assists)	61-72
8:47	+1	Brook Lopez makes regular free throw 1 of 1	61-73
8:22		Bucks offensive rebound
8:16		Khris Middleton offensive rebound
8:09		John Collins defensive rebound
8:08		Bobby Portis personal foul (Loose ball) (John Collins draws the foul)
8:08		Bobby Portis turnover
7:54		Khris Middleton defensive rebound
7:41	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point dunk (Khris Middleton assists)	63-75
7:21		Brook Lopez blocks Lou Williams's two point floating jump shot
7:07	+2	Bobby Portis makes two point turnaround jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists)	63-77
6:46	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jrue Holiday assists)	65-79
6:46	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jrue Holiday assists)	65-79
6:26	+2	Lou Williams makes two point floating jump shot	67-79
6:06		Cam Reddish defensive rebound
5:59	+2	John Collins makes two point jump shot (Bogdan Bogdanovic assists)	69-79
5:40		Bogdan Bogdanovic flagrant 1 (Khris Middleton draws the foul)
5:40		Khris Middleton misses flagrant free throw 1 of 3
5:40		Khris Middleton misses flagrant free throw 1 of 3
5:40		Bucks offensive rebound
5:34		John Collins shooting foul (Brook Lopez draws the foul)
5:34		John Collins shooting foul (Brook Lopez draws the foul)
5:34	+1	Brook Lopez makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-82
5:34		Brook Lopez misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:34		Hawks defensive rebound
5:34		Pat Connaughton personal foul (Loose ball) (John Collins draws the foul)
5:16		P.J. Tucker defensive rebound
5:09		P.J. Tucker turnover (bad pass) (Lou Williams steals)
4:59		Onyeka Okongwu offensive rebound
4:57		Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point jump shot
4:57		Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point jump shot
4:55		P.J. Tucker defensive rebound
4:30	+2	Jrue Holiday makes two point fadeaway jump shot	69-84
3:58		Bobby Portis misses three point jump shot
3:56		Cam Reddish defensive rebound
3:44	+2	Danilo Gallinari makes two point turnaround jump shot	73-84
3:23		Lou Williams defensive rebound
3:19		Lou Williams misses two point fadeaway jump shot
3:16		Pat Connaughton defensive rebound
3:14	+1	Jrue Holiday makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-86
2:48		Brook Lopez turnover (traveling)
2:36		Cam Reddish misses three point jump shot
2:33		Bobby Portis defensive rebound
2:15		Kris Dunn personal foul (Bobby Portis draws the foul)
2:15	+1	Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	73-87
2:08		Onyeka Okongwu defensive rebound
2:00		Bucks 60 second timeout
1:41		Bobby Portis misses two point turnaround jump shot
1:39		Kris Dunn defensive rebound
1:24	+2	Onyeka Okongwu makes two point floating jump shot (Kevin Huerter assists)	78-87
1:03		Bryn Forbes misses two point jump shot
1:00		Brook Lopez offensive rebound
1:00	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point putback layup	78-89
0:39		Kevin Huerter misses two point jump shot
0:35		Bobby Portis defensive rebound
0:30		Bucks offensive rebound
0:28		Bucks offensive rebound
0:06		Cam Reddish turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
0:00		Khris Middleton misses two point jump shot
0:00		Bucks offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

4th Quarter
ATL
Hawks
34
MIL
Bucks
32

Time		Play	Score
11:34		Danilo Gallinari misses two point jump shot
11:32		Bryn Forbes defensive rebound
11:07		Kevin Huerter turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
10:40	+3	John Collins makes three point jump shot (Bogdan Bogdanovic assists)	81-96
10:20	+3	Khris Middleton makes three point jump shot	81-99
10:00		Brook Lopez shooting foul (John Collins draws the foul)
10:00	+1	John Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	82-99
10:00	+1	John Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	83-99
9:45	+2	Brook Lopez makes two point hook shot (Khris Middleton assists)	83-101
9:26		Brook Lopez blocks Bogdan Bogdanovic's two point finger roll layup
9:04		Bucks misses three point jump shot
8:51		Hawks misses two point jump shot
8:44		Hawks personal foul
8:44	+1	Bobby Portis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	86-103
7:54	+2	Jrue Holiday makes two point jump shot (Bobby Portis assists)	89-105
7:54		Bogdan Bogdanovic shooting foul (Jrue Holiday draws the foul)
7:54	+1	Jrue Holiday makes regular free throw 1 of 1	89-106
7:32		Kevin Huerter misses three point jump shot
7:31		Clint Capela offensive rebound
7:27	+3	Bogdan Bogdanovic makes three point step back jump shot	92-106
7:06	+3	Pat Connaughton makes three point jump shot (Bobby Portis assists)	92-109
6:40	+2	Lou Williams makes two point floating jump shot (John Collins assists)	94-109
6:00		Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point step back jump shot
5:57		Khris Middleton defensive rebound
5:57		Lou Williams personal foul (Take) (Khris Middleton draws the foul)
5:20		Khris Middleton misses two point jump shot
5:17		Jrue Holiday offensive rebound
5:14	+2	Pat Connaughton makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Jrue Holiday assists)	94-111
5:15		Hawks 60 second timeout
4:58	+2	Danilo Gallinari makes two point jump shot	96-111
4:01		Bucks misses two point jump shot
3:57		Bobby Portis misses two point putback layup
3:56		Danilo Gallinari defensive rebound
3:46	+2	Bogdan Bogdanovic makes two point layup (Danilo Gallinari assists)	98-111
3:21	+3	Bobby Portis makes three point jump shot (Khris Middleton assists)	98-114
3:07		Lou Williams misses three point jump shot
3:04		Khris Middleton defensive rebound
2:44		Danilo Gallinari defensive rebound
2:34	+3	Bogdan Bogdanovic makes three point jump shot (Lou Williams assists)	101-114
1:55		Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point jump shot
1:54		John Collins offensive rebound
1:52	+3	Danilo Gallinari makes three point jump shot (John Collins assists)	105-116
1:40	+2	Bucks makes two point jump shot	105-118
1:21		John Collins personal foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul)
1:21	+1	Khris Middleton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	108-120
1:10		Bogdan Bogdanovic misses two point finger roll layup
1:04		John Collins offensive rebound
1:03		Kevin Huerter personal foul (Take) (Brook Lopez draws the foul)
1:03		Hawks 60 second timeout
0:58		Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point fadeaway jump shot
0:52		Bogdan Bogdanovic personal foul (Take) (Pat Connaughton draws the foul)
0:52	+1	Pat Connaughton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	110-122
0:52	+1	Pat Connaughton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	110-123
0:24	+2	Skylar Mays makes two point driving layup (Kris Dunn assists)	112-123
0:00		Bucks turnover (shot clock violation)
0:00		End of period

Bucks turnover (shot clock violation)