The Atlanta Hawks dismantled the Milwaukee Bucks on the road, 127-110, on Sunday night at Fiserv Forum. After a disappointing 0-2 start, Atlanta executed on both sides of the ball for a full 48 minutes. The game was essentially over after three quarters, as both teams emptied their benches midway through the fourth.
Head Coach, Quin Snyder, started Jalen Johnson at power forward, and Johnson answered the call, creating havoc on the defensive end. Right out of the gate, the Hawks’ offense jumped out to a 12-3 lead from a Johnson three-pointer. Snyder wanted Atlanta to shoot more three’s after the first two games, and his players responded with five three-point attempts in the first five minutes.
After a timeout from Bucks Head Coach, Adrian Griffin, Milwaukee still could not find a rhythm on offense. The Hawks stretched the lead to 26-11, making six of seven field goals as the quarter winded down. Johnson had an emphatic chase-down block on Marjon Beauchamp to add to his many defensive highlights to start the season.
Bobby Portis gave the Bucks a shot of adrenaline off the bench and led the charge to cut the Hawks’ lead to 31-26 at the end of the first. The Hawks’ defense held Giannis Antetokounmpo to five points, Portis led the Bucks with seven points and Clint Capela gave Atlanta six points.
It was not long before the Hawks stretched the lead back to double digits on a 10-1 run with seven minutes left in the second quarter. Dejounte Murray was the head of the snake on defense, locking up Damian Lillard the whole night. He held Lillard scoreless in the first-half and kept him from penetrating Atlanta’s interior defense. His defense set the tone for the Hawks to extend the lead to 55-40 during the second quarter.
The Hawks entered halftime with a 68-47 lead, and Johnson led Atlanta with 14 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Murray added 12 and 13, respectively, while Capela added 11 boards. Atlanta had 17 assists and won the fastbreak point battle, 19-5, dominating the Bucks in transition and forcing 23 turnovers. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 16.
The Hawks expanded the lead to 85-64, and the Bucks’ body language looked poor midway through the third quarter. A.J. Griffin hit a three from the left wing right in front of Milwaukee’s Head Coach, Adrian Griffin -his father. Since he came into the league, the son has three wins compared to the father’s one. The Hawks kept a consistent 20-point lead throughout the third quarter and never looked back, as Milwaukee emptied its bench in the fourth.
After a rough start to the season, Trae Young made three of his eight three-point shots for 20 points and 11 assists. Murray dropped in 15, and Capela finished with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double. Onyeka Okongwu broke out in a big way with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Bogdanovic led the bench mob with 17 points. Johnson totaled 14 points, seven boards and two steals, De’Andre Hunter dropped in 15 points and Saddiq Bey added 13 points.
For Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Malik Beasley had 18 points on 4-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Brook Lopez dropped 13 points and Portis totaled 12 points. The Hawks held Milwaukee to only four double-digit scorers with Lillard only totaling six points.
This was a statement win for the Hawks against a title contender. They will look to carry the momentum back home on Monday, Oct. 30, when the Minnesota Timberwolves come to State Farm Arena.
