The Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks tussle this Thursday at State Farm Arena. This will the second meeting between these two teams, with the Bucks winning the first encounter. Check out our preview of this game below.
The Bucks finally ended a three-game losing skid, defeating the Orlando Magic on the road last Sunday, 127-87 to improve to 33-20 on the season. The Bucks will be facing the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday in Twin City before ending their three-game road trip in Atlanta. Without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks leaned on Khris Middleton to lead them. Middleton had 21 points to go with 8 rebounds and 5 assists. It’s currently uncertain if Antetokounmpo would play against the Hawks, but if he doesn’t against Minnesota, there’s a good chance that he’ll show up in the rematch against Atlanta, as the Bucks probably prioritize the second leg of this back-to-back set over the first. Antetokounmpo had 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists in the Bucks’ 129-115 home win over Atlanta last January.
The Bucks are 2-0 against the spread in their last two games against Atlanta.
Atlanta is on a groove, having won all of its last three games and seven of its last eight, dating back to April 1’s 134-129 overtime road win over the San Antonio Spurs. In their most recent outing, the Hawks took down the Toronto Raptors on the road, 103-83, last Tuesday. The Hawks are winning despite not having Trae Young of late. Young has missed the last two games with a left calf injury, though there’s a chance he returns to action against the Bucks. Should Young be sat out again, the Hawks will turn to Brandon Goodwin and Lou Williams sharing the duties in the backcourt. Goodwin filled in nicely for Young against the Raptors, scoring 18 points with three 3-pointers, while Williams came off the bench and fired 9 points with 5 assists. Atlanta is 13th in the NBA with 113.3 points per game and 11th with 111.2 points allowed per contest.
The Hawks are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games as the home team.
