The Eastern Conference Finals series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks. Will the Hawks grab the series lead again? Or will the Bucks make it two in a row to capture the series lead for the first time? Check out our preview of this pivotal game below.
The Bucks were not going to allow Trae Young and the Hawks to run away with another win in their own territory, as Milwaukee pulled off a huge 125-91 statement of a win in Game 2. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field to go with nine rebounds and six assists plus two streaks in just 29 minutes, while Jrue Holiday scored 22 points. Holiday is finally having a good series, and not just offensively. He helped the Bucks big time in clamping down Young in Game 2, and should continue to have a major role in trying to slow down the Hawks’ best player. The Bucks also scored 62 points in the paint in Game 2 after scoring over 70 in the shaded area in Game 1. It appears that the Hawks don’t have it in them to keep Milwaukee from winning the battle in the paint, so expect more inside incursions from Antetokounmpo and company.
The Bucks are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games after one day of rest.
The Hawks got destroyed in Game 2, but the good thing is that they managed to steal Game 1 on the road, so they’re still in pretty good shape coming into Game 3 at home. Young only had 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the field and 1-of-8 shooting from behind the arc while also collecting nine turnovers. As great as the Bucks’ defense was, it’s hard to imagine Young playing that bad for the second game in a row. He didn’t survive the New York Knicks in the first round and the defensive duo of Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle in the conference semifinals series against the Philadelphia 76ers just to fold easily at the hands of the Bucks. Young, however, might not have Bogdan Bogdanovic running alongside him in Game 3, as the Serbian shooter is deemed questionable to play with a knee issue.
The Bucks are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games after failing to cover in the previous contest.
