Bucks Hang On To Earn Trip To The Finals
By Dan Bruno
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the host Atlanta Hawks, 118-107, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals at State Farm Arena on Saturday evening, to earn their fourth win of the series and advance to NBA Finals.
Despite missing Giannis Antetokounmpo for the second straight game, the Bucks put together a solid team effort to close out the series on the road. The contest got out to a competitive start, but the Bucks led, 28-24, after one quarter. The scoring slowed down in the second, as the Hawks and Bucks matched each other with nine points apiece. However, the Bucks blew the game open in the third, led by Khris Middleton who poured in 23 points in the quarter, to contribute to a 44-point quarter, which gave the Bucks a 19-point lead heading into the final frame. The Hawks did not quit and made a push in the fourth, where they cut it down to a six-point game with under four minutes left, but the Bucks responded and came up with a few clutch baskets to secure the win and a trip to the Finals.
Khris Middleton led the way for the Bucks with 32 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals, in 40 minutes. Jrue Holiday followed up with 27 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, four steals and two blocks, while Pat Connaughton added 13 points, eight rebounds and two steals. The Bucks shot 46 percent from the field, including 17-of-45 from long range.
Meanwhile, Cam Reddish led the Hawks with 21 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal, in 28 minutes off the bench. Bogdan Bogdanovic followed up with 20 points, three assists, two rebounds and three steals, while John Collins totaled 13 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and a block. Trae Young had a rough outing, with 14 points on 4-of-17 shooting, including 0-of-6 from deep.
Despite missing Giannis Antetokounmpo for the second straight game, the Bucks put together a solid team effort to close out the series on the road. The contest got out to a competitive start, but the Bucks led, 28-24, after one quarter. The scoring slowed down in the second, as the Hawks and Bucks matched each other with nine points apiece. However, the Bucks blew the game open in the third, led by Khris Middleton who poured in 23 points in the quarter, to contribute to a 44-point quarter, which gave the Bucks a 19-point lead heading into the final frame. The Hawks did not quit and made a push in the fourth, where they cut it down to a six-point game with under four minutes left, but the Bucks responded and came up with a few clutch baskets to secure the win and a trip to the Finals.
Khris Middleton led the way for the Bucks with 32 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals, in 40 minutes. Jrue Holiday followed up with 27 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, four steals and two blocks, while Pat Connaughton added 13 points, eight rebounds and two steals. The Bucks shot 46 percent from the field, including 17-of-45 from long range.
Meanwhile, Cam Reddish led the Hawks with 21 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal, in 28 minutes off the bench. Bogdan Bogdanovic followed up with 20 points, three assists, two rebounds and three steals, while John Collins totaled 13 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and a block. Trae Young had a rough outing, with 14 points on 4-of-17 shooting, including 0-of-6 from deep.