ATLANTA – The NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks had more than enough depth and skill Friday night even without without Giannis Antetokounmpo to overwhelm the league-worst Atlanta Hawks.
“I think this was a pretty complete game by our group,” said Mike Budenholzer, who coached the Hawks for five years before taking over in Milwauke prior to last season. “The defense stood out to me in the first half. I think (holding the Hawks to) 40 points at halftime gave us a nice cushion. We kind of could ride that out the rest of the game.”
Khris Middleton scored 23 points, and Ersan Ilyasova had season highs of 18 points and 17 rebounds as the Bucks overcame Antetokunmpo’s absence to beat the Hawks 112-86.
Antetokunmpo, the NBA MVP last season and the league’s second-leading scorer this season, sat out because of a sore back, watching from the bench as the Bucks improved to 28-5 overall and 13-3 on the road this season.
The Hawks lost their ninth straight to drop to a league-worst 6-26, and star point guard Trae Young, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer, left with a right ankle sprain late in the second quarter. He had to be helped off the floor and was ruled out for the rest of the game.