Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks Pick & Prediction JANUARY 11th 2023
Less than halfway through the season, Trae Young is closing in on the 1,000-point mark as he leads the Atlanta Hawks into their final regular-season game against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
The Hawks have won two of the three meetings against the Bucks, most recently a 121-106 victory at Milwaukee on Nov. 14. Atlanta has a four-game home winning streak against the Bucks.
Young scored 30 points in Sunday's 112-108 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers and has 989 points so far. He also has 353 assists and is the only player in the Eastern Conference, and one of three players in the NBA, with 900 points and 300 assists. Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic have also hit both marks.
Gino De Luca
Young scored 42 points against the Bucks on Oct. 29 at Milwaukee, two points short of the Hawks' franchise record against the Bucks set by Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins in 1990. In 12 career games against Milwaukee, Young is averaging 24.5 points and 8.5 assists.
Young has scored at least 30-plus points in two straight games and three of his last four. He has 15 games with 30-plus points, including 18 double-doubles, and upped his season average to 27.5 points and 9.8 assists.
Atlanta went 2-2 on its West Coast road trip and overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Clippers. The victory was No. 750 for Atlanta coach Nate McMillan.
"We're going to make runs and they are, too," Young said. "It's just trying to weather the storm on their runs and finish the game out when we've got it. In the fourth quarter it's up to me and (Dejounte Murray) to get a good shot every possession and try to finish the game. I'm just glad we got the win. That's the most important part."
The Bucks are coming off a 111-107 win over the New York Knicks on Monday, during the first leg of a four-game road trip. Milwaukee erased a 17-point deficit to end New York's four-game winning streak. Milwaukee has won four of its last six since enduring a four-game losing streak.
The Bucks are led by Giannis Antetokounmpo's 31.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists. His last six games include three of at least 40 points, three of at least 20 rebounds, not to mention a 30-pount triple-double. He is on track to average at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the fifth straight season.
In 31 career games against the Hawks, Antetokounmpo is averaging 23.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists.
Veteran Joe Ingles is rounding into shape for the Bucks after missing the first 29 games while recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. He had a season-high 28 minutes and 17 points against the Knicks and hit five 3-pointers.
"It's nice to finish a game," Ingles said. "It's nice to be in those situations, obviously."
Atlanta has been without center Clint Capela (12 points, 11.9 rebounds) for the last seven games with right calf soreness.
The Bucks are missing Serge Ibaka, who is out for personal reasons and will not rejoin the team on its four-game road trip. Milwaukee guard Khris Middleton has missed 12 straight games with right knee soreness.
--Field Level Media
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks Recap APR 25TH 2021
Bogdan Bogdanovic matched his season high with 32 points and Lou Williams scored all of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to spark the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-104 come-from-behind win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
Bogdanovic and Williams each had three treys during a 19-6 fourth-quarter run that allowed Atlanta to snap its six-game losing streak against Milwaukee. The Hawks made seven straight 3-point attempts in the fourth quarter after going 5-for-25 to start the game.
Bogdanovic was 12-for-21 from the field and 6-for-11 on 3-point baskets and Williams was 4-for-7 on 3s, along with six assists.
Atlanta (34-27) improved to seven games over .500 for the first time since March 11, 2017, the last season the Hawks made the playoffs. The Hawks also got 20 points from Kevin Huerter and 18 points from John Collins.
The Hawks were playing without leading scorer Trae Young for the second night with a left ankle sprain.
Milwaukee (37-23) got 31 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks from Giannis Antetokounmpo and 23 points from Khris Middleton.
Atlanta has won 11 of its last 14 games. The win pushed Atlanta into a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference with the New York Knicks.
Milwaukee led by eight points with 10:08 left to play, but took its first lead since the first quarter on a 3-pointer by Williams with 6:59 left to put the Hawks ahead 85-84. It was the first basket of the game for Williams.
The Bucks led 29-26 after the first quarter and stretched the lead to 51-43 at halftime. Milwaukee played a clean first half, committing only three fouls and not sending Atlanta to the line through the first two quarters.
Milwaukee led by as many as 11 in the third quarter, never letting the Hawks get closer than three points, and took a 78-70 lead into the final quarter.
Atlanta travels to Detroit for the completion of a back-to-back on Monday.
The Bucks will play the second game of a four-game road trip on Tuesday at Charlotte.
--Field Level Media
- NBA
