ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks’ path to the Eastern Conference finals provides them reason to remain optimistic after a humbling Game 2 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks evened the best-of-seven series.
The Bucks also can rely on their postseason history to boost their belief in their championship hopes. This is Milwaukee’s second conference finals appearance in three years, with the Bucks losing in 2019 to the Toronto Raptors, who went on to win the NBA title.
A talent-rich roster led by two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo was widely expected to contend for the championship this season, and thanks to a resounding 125-91 win Friday, the Bucks take momentum into Game 3. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. Sunday in Atlanta, which is also the site of Game 4 on Tuesday night.
“There’s got to be some urgency, but you still have to enjoy the fact that we’re here, you know, because we worked extremely hard to be in the last four teams standing,” Antetokounmpo said after leading the Bucks with 25 points. “But you know, now going on the road, obviously there is going to be some urgency.”
This is only the second conference finals appearance for the Hawks since the franchise moved to Atlanta in 1968. They were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015.
The fifth-seeded Hawks already have surpassed expectations. They finished last in their Southeast Division and missed the playoffs each of the past three years before suddenly learning to win under interim coach Nate McMillan this season.
Atlanta has been an underdog in each playoff round. When facing the fourth-seeded New York Knicks in the first round and the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals, the Hawks won their series opener on the road before losing the second game. They followed the same path against third-seeded Milwaukee.
The Hawks’ staggering Game 2 loss – the Bucks never trailed and led by as many as 41 points – was a reminder they are starting three players who are in their first postseason: John Collins, Kevin Huerter and Trae Young.
“We have to play harder,” Hawks interim coach Nate McMillan said. “That intensity that they came out with wasn’t a surprise to us. But they showed that there’s another level that we have to get to. They totally just dominated the entire game.”
The young Hawks have proved they can win close playoff games. They are 4-0 in games decided by no more than three points and 6-1 when the margin is no more than seven. Now they must demonstrate they are resilient.
“We’ve just got to up our level of competition, of intensity,” Collins said. “I feel like this is part of us growing into the mature players that can handle a championship run, as this is our first. And not to make any excuse, but these are the type of things that happen. It’s on us to improve and make adjustments.”
Young will be challenged to regain the swagger he displayed when he scored 48 points in Atlanta’s 116-113 win in the series opener Wednesday night. He had an early highlight Friday when his steal and long jumper cut Milwaukee’s lead to 15-12. He celebrated by shaking his shoulders with a shimmy he unveiled in the opening game.
It was a rare highlight on a night of struggles for Young, who scored only 15 points and matched his career high with nine turnovers.
“I take complete responsibility for what happened tonight,” Young said. “Taking care of the ball is something I’ve got to be better at. I will be better at it. It’s really they just upped their physicality tonight. We’ve got to do the same.”
Perhaps the most encouraging development for the Hawks in Game 2 was the return of Cam Reddish from an Achilles’ tendon injury. He scored 11 points in 17 minutes in his first appearance since Feb. 21.
“To be honest, that was the only positive thing tonight,” Young said.
Reddish gives Atlanta more perimeter depth with Bogdan Bogdanovic limited by a sore right knee.
“It felt good,” Reddish said. “I was excited to get back out there. Obviously it felt a little bit weird at first, but as the game went on, got better, got more comfortable. I’m looking forward to getting on to the next game.”