Giannis Antetokounmpo made six dunks and scored 36 points to help the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Atlanta Hawks 122-113 on Saturday night, stopping the Hawks’ four-game winning streak.
Antetokounmpo also grabbed 16 rebounds, while Khris Middleton added 21 points for the Bucks, who ended a two-game losing streak.
Milwaukee’s point guard Damian Lillard didn’t play due to personal reasons. The Bucks had previously lost all five games without Lillard this season. It’s uncertain if Lillard will be available for their next game against Washington on Tuesday.
Patrick Beverley, who was uncertain to play because of a wrist injury, scored 18 points as the starting point guard.
Beverley mentioned that Bucks coach Doc Rivers was cautious about giving him full minutes due to his injury, but he ended up playing 36 minutes with five assists and no turnovers.
Rivers praised Beverley’s ball movement and was pleased with the team’s performance. Antetokounmpo had a solid game, making 12 of 16 free throws and leading the team with eight assists. Rivers commented that Antetokounmpo played exceptionally well.
Dejounte Murray, who had a career-high 44 points in the Hawks’ win over Boston, contributed 20 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds.
Despite the Hawks making 14 three-pointers, including five by Bogdan Bogdanović, Rivers was happy with how the Bucks played.
Bogdanovic had a standout performance, setting a career-high with 10 rebounds and scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter, including two crucial three-pointers. The Hawks, dealing with injuries to Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson, struggled to defend Antetokounmpo.
