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The Atlanta Hawks blasted the Milwaukee Bucks 110-88 in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series at State Farm Arena on Tuesday. The Hawks tied the Eastern Conference Finals at 2-2 heading into Game 5 in Milwaukee.
Trae Young was ruled out of Game 4 about an hour before tipoff and it seemed as though all was lost for the Atlanta Hawks without their star player. But Young’s teammates didn’t succumb to the pressure and once again came up big with their backs against the wall.
The Milwaukee Bucks also lost their leader, Giannis Antetokounmpo, to an injury early in the third quarter. The loss of the two-time MVP was too much for the Bucks to overcome and it led to this blowout win by the Hawks.
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Here are 5 reasons why the Atlanta Hawks won against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5:
#1 Lou Williams played like Trae Young
Lou Williams did his best Trae Young impression in Game 4 and it worked.
From the very start, Williams was the catalyst as the Atlanta Hawks rushed out to a big lead over the Milwaukee Bucks. He began the game scoring seven of his team’s first 15 points and had 13 at the half. The 16-year veteran made 4-of-4 field-goals including 1-of-1 on threes, and was also 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Williams also got his teammates going, dishing the ball and accumulating seven assists in the second half. His second-half showing proved crucial as the Hawks broke the game wide open in the third quarter. Overall, he recorded 21 points, eight assists, five rebounds and just one turnover.
#2 Suffocating defense
The Atlanta Hawks forced the Milwaukee Bucks to turn the ball over eight times in the first half and 15 for the game. Additionally, they stole the ball 11 times while smothering the Bucks whenever they were able to get their shots off.
Held to only 88 points for the game, the Milwaukee Bucks shot a horrible 39.3 percent from the field and 20.5 percent from 3-point range (8-of-39). The Atlanta Hawks scrambled and hustled at the defensive end and it took the Bucks out of their game early on.
#3 Atlanta Hawks bench outscored and outplayed the Milwaukee Bucks reserves
Without Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks showed that they were more than just a one-man team. Not only did the starters step up, their bench also showed their mettle. Led by Cam Reddish (12 points) and Danilo Gallinari (10 points), the Hawks’ non-starters outscored their Milwaukee Bucks counterparts 35-22.
The Atlanta Hawks’ bench players also had a combined 15 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in a superb performance. Their fantastic display allowed the starters to take a breather without the offense or defense missing a beat.
#4 Incredible shooting display
Game 4 was a must-win for the Atlanta Hawks, who were down 2-1 in the series. Instead of succumbing to the pressure, the players shot the lights out of the building with excellent shooting touch from all over the floor.
Though their 3-point shooting wasn’t too good at just 34.2 percent, it was still substantially better than the Milwaukee Bucks (20.5%). The Atlanta Hawks made 50.6 percent of their field-goal attempts, knocking down shots both inside and outside the paint.
The Hawks’ uncanny shooting was epitomized by Clint Capela’s otherworldly shot from behind-the-backboard with a hand in his face. It called to mind NBA legend Larry Bird, who made a similar shot in the 1980’s.
#5 Giannis injured his knee
The Milwaukee Bucks weren’t playing well by any stretch with the Greek Freak on the floor in Game 4. But after he went to the locker room with a knee injury in the third quarter, it was all over for the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo landed awkwardly upon bumping bodies with Clint Capela. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar screamed in pain as he fell to the floor while clutching his knee.
Post his withdrawal, the Atlanta Hawks took control of the game. They went on a 15-2 run, which was capped by a 3-pointer from Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Also Read: Damian Lillard to New Orleans Pelicans: 3 reasons why this trade helps no one in the long run
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