The Hawks suffered a 30-point loss at home to the Bucks on December 26th. They would go on to beat the Bucks on the road the very next game and that win was the beginning of a 19-game winning streak for Atlanta. The Hawks faced the Bucks again Monday night, and it was Atlanta who came out on top this time.
The inside game of former Hawk Zaza Pachulia and Giannis Antetokounmpo helped the Bucks stay in the game early in the first period. DeMarre Carroll and Al Horford were cooking as they helped the Hawks earn a 25-20 lead at the end of the first quarter. They both combined for 41 points for the game.
Jeff Teague came back from an ankle injury that sat him out for a couple of games, but he only had eight points on 2 of 8 shooting versus Milwaukee. Dennis Schroder was effective in those two games, but he only had four points in this one. He suffered a toe injury in the second half of the game. He is already ruled out for the Hawks' March 31st game on the road versus the Detroit Pistons.
The Hawks managed to build a 15-point lead in the second half in part due to a lights out performance by Kyle Korver. He scored 11 points in 65 seconds. Nine of them came from three three-pointers in a row. He was ice cold in the first half and the fourth quarter.
The Hawks led, 72-64, after three quarters. Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll's inside game from the first half came to life, and it was efficient as they were able to get to the free-throw line and force Milwaukee to get into foul trouble. The Bucks were over the limit for the whole second half. The Bucks' missed the services of Jared Dudley due to a lower back injury. Dudley provided a spark in the first matchup between the two teams as he had 24 points, four rebounds, two assists, and four steals.
The Hawks have now won three straight games versus the Bucks and won the season series 3-1. Atlanta now stands at an overall record of 56-17. They clinched first place in the Eastern Conference with their win on March 27th versus the Miami Heat. The Hawks will take on the Pistons on March 31st.
The Bucks now slip to 36-38. Milwaukee is still sixth in the East despite recently falling to below .500. They will face their division rivals the Chicago Bulls on April 1st.