The Atlanta Hawks put together a strong, two-way performance on Wednesday evening. That effort netted the team a 119-104 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on the road and earned Atlanta its fifth consecutive win. Not only did the Hawks inch above the .500 mark for the first time since October, but Atlanta also extended its winning streak to a length the team did not reach at any point during the 2023-24 season.
Hello, Defense
Atlanta’s offense was rock-solid in Wednesday’s win, putting up slightly above-average efficiency that included a monster stretch in the first half. It was a balanced performance, and De’Andre Hunter continued his red-hot shooting off the bench.
However, it was Atlanta’s defense that truly led the way in this matchup. The Bucks came in on a seven-game winning streak and, during that run, Milwaukee scored more than 1.2 points per possession. In this game, the Bucks were held to exactly 1.00 points per possession (104 points on 104 possessions), and Atlanta was excellent in deterring Milwaukee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo did set a new season high in free throw attempts, much to the chagrin of the Hawks, but Atlanta owned the defensive glass and the possession battle overall. Ultimately, the Hawks produced 19 more shooting possessions than the Bucks, allowing Quin Snyder’s team to win comfortably despite a mediocre shooting night on the road.
Atlanta will aim to extend its winning streak on Friday evening against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the Lakers look to rebound from a 41-point drubbing at the hands of the Miami Heat on Wednesday. That game will also have a double impact in that the Hawks own the Lakers’ 2025 first round pick unprotected as part of the trade that sent Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans this summer.
