Bucks Suffer Their First Season Loss As Young Sits Down But Murray And The Hawks Win
25 points were scored by Dejounte Murray, and A.J. In place of Trae Young, Griffin came off the bench to add a career-high 24 points, and the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 117-98 to end their nine-game winning streak to start the season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 25 points for the Bucks after missing one game due to a sore left knee. The team was attempting to start the season 10-0 for the first time since the Golden State Warriors’ 24-0 start in 2014–15.
“We got more aggressive in the third and fourth quarter and were able to beat the best team in the league tonight,” According to Hawks coach Nate McMillan. “In terms of offense, I thought we were patient and had really good movement. We also made them work for the ball, unlike in the first game against them, and we didn’t settle for easy shots.”
Young, Atlanta’s top scorer and assist producer, was unable to play due to right shin pain. Griffin performed admirably in his 31 minutes of playing time, making 10 of 15 field goal attempts.
“Coach told me to be ready early,” Griffin said. “Simply to adopt that attitude, be up for the challenge, and do so. You are aware of your efforts. I’m grateful for the support from my teammates and coaches. Feeling like family.”
A season-high 19 turnovers by the Bucks allowed Atlanta to score 22 points.
Milwaukee’s winning streak was the longest since winning 18 straight games in 2019–20, and it was tied for the second-longest under fifth-year coach Mike Budenholzer.
With 9:20 remaining in the third quarter, Murray made a 17-footer to give Atlanta its first lead, 62-60. The Hawks increased their lead to nine points twice, the second time when Murray’s 17-footer made the score 89-80 in the final seconds of the third.
In the third, the Hawks outscored Milwaukee 37 to 22.
“They got the best of us tonight,” said Bobby Portis, a forward for the Bucks. “The basketball was passed around and shots were made. They were more animated than we were this evening. It showed.”
Midway through the first quarter, Brook Lopez made a 3-pointer to give the game its first double-digit lead. The Hawks called timeout after a third 3-pointer by Grayson Allen made the score 21-8. Atlanta trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, but a 21-9 run midway through the second quarter, capped by Onyeka Okongwu’s baseline jumper, cut the deficit to two.
A few possessions later, Jrue Holiday and Antetokounmpo combined for an alley-oop dunk, and Holiday made a long jumper to make the score 45-39. At the break, the Bucks were up 58-52.
Since the 2016–17 team went 8–2, the Hawks (7–3) are off to their best start to a season through 10 games.
“Basketball is a game of runs, and like I kept telling the group, ‘They made their run’ and were making a bunch of 3s — it wasn’t going to be like that all night,” Murray said. “We must fight on and on until things turn out the way we want them to.”
TIP-INS
Lopez has at least one shot blocked this season for the Bucks in every game. … Milwaukee made 11 three-pointers in the first half, led by three each from Grayson Allen and Lopez, but the Bucks made just two more after the break. … Having passed the concussion protocol, F Sandro Mamukelashvili participated in the final six minutes.
Hawks: Have defeated Milwaukee at home four times in a row. … The Hawks’ streak of 31 straight games with at least 100 points scored, dating back to last March 3, is the fifth-longest in the history of the team. Following New Orleans’ 36-game winning streak, it is the NBA’s second-longest active streak.
FAMILY TIES
The Holiday brothers participated in this game for the sixth time. In those contests, Jrue Holiday’s record fell to 5-1. For the Bucks, Jrue Holiday scored a total of 16 points. For Atlanta, Justin Holiday scored 14. Young’s place was filled by Aaron Holiday, who finished with four points.
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