Bucks Split With Hawks

Milwaukee has posted a 2-4 record in the absence of Jabari Parker since his injury against the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 15. Over the weekend, the Bucks played a back-to-back with the Atlanta Hawks, a team that currently holds the second spot in the Eastern Conference at 22-8.

Coach Kidd and his young team split with Atlanta, winning Friday night’s contest with ease in Atlanta 107-77, then losing Saturday night at home 90-85.

The win on Friday night wasn’t just a regular victory, it was a small sign showing that a new era is really dawning as the win marked the Bucks 15th win of the season, matching last year’s total number of wins after a full 82-game season.

FRIDAY IN ATL

Jared Dudley torched the Hawks Friday night, making all 10 of his shot attempts for 24 points, including four trifectas.

“I can’t say it was a perfect game because as a coach you always want more, but it was as close to a no-hitter as you can come to,” Coach Kidd said. “I thought he was great tonight on both ends.”

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Dudley is the first player in NBA history to shoot 100 percent from the field with at least 10 field goal attempts, including at least three three-point attempts.

“Hey, sometimes it’s your night,” Dudley said.

Brandon Knight scored 16 points in the blowout victory as the Bucks shot 50.6 percent from the field and held Atlanta to just a 40.8 percent clip for the game.

Milwaukee outscored the Hawks in every quarter, including a 34-20 second quarter that created a 58-42 halftime lead.

“Our energy, make or miss, was at a high level,” J- Kidd said. “That’s the way we have to play, being able to run them off the three-(point line), rebound the ball and on the other end make them work, share the ball, and I thought guys did that.”

One of the largest defensive assignments was checking three-point sharp shooter Kyle Korver, who shoots 53.9% from the deep. Knight took it as a personal challenge to keep Korver from developing a rhythm from behind the arc. Korver finished with just three points on just 1-of-6 shooting from downtown.

“He doesn’t stop moving so it’s not an easy task,” Knight said. “I just wanted to make it as difficult as possible. I knew he was going to get his looks. You’ve got to chase him. It’s a night where you’re going to run a lot and always be aware of where he’s at because he’s such a threat.”

The Hawks were led by Paul Millsap with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Al Horford added 13 points and Jeff Teague contributed 12.

Zaza Pachulia scored 14 and Johnny O’Bryant scored 12, while O.J. Mayo scored 11 and Jerryd Bayless pitched in 12 off the bench.

With six players in double figures the Bucks shared the ball extremely well, tallying 28 assists. But Coach Kidd was fully prepared for an awkward second meeting with Atlanta in less than 24 hours—a rare back-to-back in today’s NBA.

“It’s kind of an old-school situation,” Kidd said. “It’s kind of rare that you play the same team less than 24 hours (later). We understand they’re one of the best teams in the East and they’re going to come out to look to get revenge. But we’ve got to protect home and come with that same energy.”

SATURDAY STRUGGLE

Jason called it.

Just 24 hours later it was much closer and much different game, as Jeff Teague tallied 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to even the two-game series at one. Ironically, both wins came on the opponent’s home floor, but Coach Kidd was sure that the second game was going to be different no matter where it was going to be played.

It was the turnovers in the second game that killed the Bucks.

“They’re part of our DNA that we have to address,” Jason said. “Down the stretch, we had some turnovers after we got the stop and that hurt us, too.”

Khris Middleton scored 21 to lead the team in scoring, but it just wasn’t enough. The Bucks struggled with ball security, coughing it up 19 times and allowing Atlanta to score 32 points off those turnovers.

After shooting the lights out in Atlanta, the Bucks shot an abysmal 38.8 percent from the field, including a lowly 10-point first quarter. The Hawks took an early lead after the first frame, 21-10, as the Bucks shot just 4-of-23 from the field in the opening 12 minutes—Milwaukee’s season low for points in a quarter.

Atlanta didn’t shoot well in either game, but their tenacious defense continued to turn Milwaukee over and giving them fast break opportunities, which ended up making the difference.

“We had some good looks, we had some open looks that we just couldn’t convert,” J-Kidd said. “Guys had open threes, or we got to the basket and we couldn’t finish. And that happens.”

Despite the rough start, the game was very close down the stretch.

Teague scored six straight points midway through the fourth quarter to give Atlanta an 82-75 lead with 4:38 remaining when he hit a driving layup.

Knight later scored on a layup and then a three-pointer from the left wing on consecutive possessions to pull Milwaukee to within two, 82-80, with 3:31 remaining. But the Bucks didn’t score again until Middleton hit a three with just 24.6 seconds left.

Atlanta’s late 6-0 run, plus some deft free throw shooting, was enough for the Hawks to edge out the victory at BMO Harris Bradley Center.