ATLANTA — While it is somewhat of a cliché to say an NBA Playoff game is “do or die”, when you are down 3-2 in a best-of-7 series, it’s very accurate.
A surprisingly flat performance by Atlanta Hawks resulted in a 123-112 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It now means Game 6 back in Atlanta is now a “win or go home” game.
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Channel 2 Sports Director Zach Klein will lead live coverage all day on Channel 2 Action News leading up to Game 6 at State Farm Arena
Milwaukee played without star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo; however, the Bucks were very active, moving the ball around the court and dishing out 28 assists as a team.
The most glaring statistic from the game though may have been points in the paint. The Bucks outscored the Hawks 66-38 close to the basket, thanks to center Brook Lopez and forwards Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis.
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Lopez led the Bucks with 33 points, Middleton added 26, while point guard Jrue Holiday dropped in 22 points for the game.
The Hawks were down 10-2 within the first minute or so of the game and never really recovered. Guard Bogdan Bogdanovic had his best game of the series dropping 28 points, but it was not nearly enough.
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The Hawks return home for Saturday night’s Game 6 and hope to get the injured Trae Young back for the game. Coach Nate McMillan says right now, Young is still a game time decision.
Atlanta center Clint Capela, who struggled after being elbowed in the eye. Capela did play in Game 5 but was not very effective.
Game 6 will be played at State Farm Arena, tip-off is 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.