NBA Playoffs: The Bucks bounce back to blow out the Hawks in Game 2 of the East finals
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - The Milwaukee Bucks evened up their series against the Atlanta Hawks with a monster win in Game 2.
The Bucks got the victory on Friday night over the Hawks 125-91, to set the Eastern Conference Finals at one game apiece.
The Bucks didn't just regroup after their close loss on Wednesday, they rose to another level entirely, relentlessly beating back the Hawks and quickly building a big lead that at one point was as much as 41 points.
Milwaukee never trailed in this game as it sought to take away any momentum the Hawks thought they had after their late-game comeback in the series opener.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (26) led his Bucks in an absolute stomping of the Hawks, showing them that the road to the NBA Finals goes through him. He was tops with 25 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Jrue Holiday had a big game too, pitching in with 22 points, but he was at his best whenever he guarded Hawks scoring machine Trae Young.
Milwaukee’s defensive game plan was focused on Young, who was held to only 15 points, with nine turnovers in the entire game. The Hawks' main man was taken out of the game for good in the third quarter, and by then, the rest of Atlanta had already collapsed around him. His team was held to under 20 points in the second and third quarters each.
The Bucks were just simply all over the Hawks, crashing the boards for a 13-rebound advantage, picking their pockets for 14 steals, and dominating the paint with 62 points to Atlanta’s 30.
After Friday night, the Bucks seem poised to control the series in Atlanta
The series now moves down to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4, as the Hawks look to take any advantage they can get from being on their home court. Neither team has an outstanding record in the postseason, but it seems that Milwaukee has a winning formula to neutralize Trae Young, which significantly affects Atlanta's chances, no matter where the games are being played.
The Bucks look to take the series lead in Game 3, on Sunday night from Atlanta.
Cover photo: IMAGO / Icon SMI