Hawks dominate second half, defeat Bucks 131-113

The Atlanta Hawks were in Milwaukee on Wednesday night to face the Bucks. The Hawks, winners of four straight coming into this game, were looking to continue that streak against a Bucks team that has not played well this season. This was also a big game as far as standings and lottery odds implications.

The Hawks were without Jonathan Kuminga in this game because of knee inflammation, and the Bucks were without Kevin Porter Jr.

The Hawks got on the board to start the game with this lob from Jalen Johnson to Onyeka Okongwu.

Giannis Antetokounmpo came out with all gas in the first and helped the Bucks get the lead, but the Hawks kept fighting. Okongwu stayed locked in and knocked a three-pointer to keep them close.

Johnson continued to find his teammates, and got Zaccharie Risacher a clean three-pointer in the corner.

The Bucks were in a flow state for most of the quarter, and they couldn’t miss from the perimeter. As much as the Hawks tried to match them, their shots weren’t falling, and they went 3-for-11 from three in the first.

Going into the second, the Hawks trailed 38-25.

The Bucks started the second on fire, but the Hawks were able to settle in at some point and get some shots to go down. The big to big connection helped the Hawks get an easy two points.

CJ McCollum got it going with this shifty layup.

The Hawks kept cutting down their deficit, which was 16 points early in the second. They got it down to two points after Mouhamed Gueye knocked down a three-pointer.

The Hawks started doubling Antetokounmpo, and that to the Bucks getting some easy shots. The Hawks stuck with it, and were able to keep cutting their deficit.

The Hawks were able to take the lead at one point after Johnson’s and-one.

The Bucks took the lead back after that, and they were able to keep it going into halftime, as the Hawks trailed 71-66.

The Hawks came out strong in the third and knocked went on a 10-0 run before the Bucks called a timeout.

The Hawks took control of the game later in the third and got their first double-digit lead, thanks to Okongwu.

Risacher got a few threes to go down in the quarter to help the Hawks maintain their lead.

Going into the fourth, the Hawks led 98-89.

Gueye came out in the fourth and knocked down his second three-pointer of the game.

The Bucks did their best to try to cut down their deficit, but they’d either get in their own way or the Hawks would have an answer. Nickeil Alexander-Walker got into the teeth of the defense and put down a huge dunk.

Dyson Daniels was everywhere in the fourth quarter, whether he was on offensive boards or getting an easy shot in the paint.

The Hawks had a lead as big as 18 in the fourth, and the Bucks were not able to ever get back into the game.

Alexander-Walker finished with 23 points, Okongwu finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, Johnson finished with 20 points and nine assists, and Daniels finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Hawks will be back in action on Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers.