Giannis Antetokounmpo has 36 points, 16 rebounds to power Bucks past Hawks

Bucks 122 Hawks 113 MIL: 47-27 ATL: 34-40

ATLANTA – Giannis Antetokounmpo had six dunks while scoring 36 points and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame Bogdan Bogdanovic’s 38 points to beat Atlanta 122-113 on Saturday night, ending the Hawks’ four-game winning streak.

Antetokounmpo added 16 rebounds and Khris Middleton scored 21 points as the Bucks snapped a twogame losing streak.

Dejounte Murray, who scored a career-high 44 points in Atlanta’s 123-122 overtime win over Boston on Thursday night for Atlanta’s second win over the Celtics in four days, had 20 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds.

Bogdanovic set a career high with 10 rebounds. He scored 17 points in the fourth quarter while sinking two 3-pointers in the final minute.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Atlanta’s De’andre Hunter and Bogdanovic midway through the final period cut the Bucks’ lead to 94-89. Middleton and Brook Lopez answered with 3s for Milwaukee to quickly push the advantage back to double figures.

Milwaukee point guard Damian Lillard was held out for personal reasons. The Bucks had been 0-5 without Lillard this season.

Lillard’s status is uncertain for the Bucks’ game at Washington on Tuesday night. Patrick Beverley scored 18 points as the fillin starter.

The Hawks again were missing injured forwards Onyeka Okongwu (left big toe sprain) and Jalen Johnson (right ankle), complicating the already difficult challenge of defending Antetokounmpo. Forward Saddiq Bey, another part of Atlanta’s regular rotation when healthy, had season-ending knee surgery this week.

Atlanta All-star point guard Trae Young (finger) has missed 18 consecutive games. The Hawks, who are a game behind No. 9 Chicago in the East, have about two weeks to have injured players return before their likely spot in the playin tournament.

The Hawks averaged 123.8 points in the four straight wins before being held to 45 first-half points by Milwaukee.

UP NEXT

Bucks: Visit Washington on Tuesday night.

Hawks: Visit Chicago on Monday night in a possible preview of the play-in tournament opener.