Beaten Thursday evening in Chicago by the Bulls despite being deprived of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, the Bucks are already returning to victory by winning at home against the Hawks (132-121). In a very rhythmic match in attack, the players of Milwaukee still took three and a half quarters to get the better of those ofAtlanta.
Indeed, the two teams were still tied five minutes from the end of the match (114-114), and it seemed that an explosive “money-time” would then be in order between these two teams on a very good evening in attack (45% on shots but 40% on 3-points for the Hawks, 60% on shots including 42% on 3-points for the Bucks). It ultimately didn't happen, since the band of a Giannis Antetokounmpo in triple-double mode for the first time this season (32 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) accelerated furiously at the start of this “money-time”, ending the match with an 18-7 to fold the affair faster than expected.
Supported of course by the XXL performance of the “Greek Freak”, the Bucks’ victory nonetheless remains fully collective: Damian Lillard compiled 25 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists, Malik Beasley made his outside shooting speak (16 points at 4/7 at 3-points) while Cameron Payne And Bobby Portis contributed 33 points coming off the bench.
The assaults of the Milwaukee attack were simply too diversified at the end of the match for the always very feverish defense of Atlanta (118.4 points conceded per game, 26th in the league), which surrendered in the crucial moments of the match. It's unfortunate, because it spoils the pair's big evening Trae Young (32 points and 12 assists) – Dejounte Murray (30 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 interceptions), and more generally the good collective effort of the Atlanta club (4 other players with 10 points or more).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The first triple-double of the season for Giannis Antetokounmpo. It was not until the 20th game that the “Greek Freak” recorded his first triple-double. In this case, after having compiled 32 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists, this was validated in the last seconds, when the Bucks star delivered a 10th assist to Damian Lillard. Facing an interior sector limited with the exception of the presence of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okungwu, the double MVP wreaked havoc in the paint: 13/15 on shots, and 4/5 on free throws.
– The Hawks' eternal defensive woes. The problem has lasted for two seasons, and the taking over of Quin Snyder last year has not changed anything: the Hawks are too vulnerable defensively, and cannot always hope to win thanks to the talent of their attack alone. Not against an attack of the caliber of the Bucks, the fourth most productive in the league. Unable to defend the “point of attack”, the Hawks systematically rely on protecting the circle of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okungwu, and that does not allow them to control the entire opposing attack. Especially since the Bucks planted 14 winning shots…
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
