SUMMARY
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LOS ANGELES, USA – Giannis Antetokounmpo did it all Friday, March 24 (Saturday in Manila) as the Milwaukee Bucks continued their NBA playoff push with a 100-97 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Antetokounmpo’s 34 points included a thunderous windmill dunk early and he capped his night with an interception of a botched Hawks pass from the sideline that helped seal the triumph.
“Giannis is selfless,” said Bucks point guard Malcolm Brogdon, who had 14 points and 7 assists. “That’s why this team has been able to come together and make the run we’re making. We follow his lead every night. It speaks to his character and his leadership.”
Antetokounmpo hit 13 of 22 shots from the field and added 13 rebounds, 5 assists, two steals and 3 blocked shots in 35 minutes.
His effort, along with Greg Monroe’s 14 points off the bench and Tony Snell’s 13, helped make up for an off night for Khris Middleton, who went one of 13 from the field and finished with just 6 points.
“This team is deep,” Brogdon said. “That’s one of our biggest strengths. … Khris isn’t going to be able to give us 20 every single night. He’s going to have off nights. He’s going to be back next game, back to his regular self.”
The Hawks saw their losing streak stretch to 6 games, despite having 3 players score at least 20 points.
Dennis Schroder led the way, hitting 11 of 25 shots for 28 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 25 and Dwight Howard notched his 47th double-double of the year with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
But the Hawks made just 41 percent of their shots and coughed up 17 turnovers that led to 23 Bucks points.
The Hawks still had a chance to win at the end.
After trailing by 5 with 5 minutes to go, Atlanta took a 92-90 lead on Hardaway’s driving layup with 2:41 to play.
But the Hawks made only one more basket after that.
It was tied at 94-94 when Hardaway tipped the ball to Howard, who attempted to throw it up the court. But it was deflected toward the Bucks’ bench and Antetokounmpo charged, leaping to knock it back into play.
The ball landed in the hands of Brogdon, who found Monroe for a layup that put Milwaukee up 96-94 with 40 seconds left.
“Go-go gadget,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said of Antetokounmpo’s play. “A lot of guys couldn’t do what he did, but he used his length very well and gave us another offensive opportunity.”
Schroder tied the score once more with Atlanta’s last field goal, but another Monroe layup put the Bucks in front for good.
The victory moved Milwaukee into a tie for fifth place in the Eastern Conference with the Hawks, although Atlanta old the tie-breaker thanks to a 3-1 record in the season series. – Rappler.com
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