Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a three-game losing streak by surviving a late Atlanta rally in a 112-110 win over the Hawks on Monday in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day game.
Milwaukee built a 23-point lead in the second half but needed a strong finish to pull it out. Atlanta briefly moved in front 105-104 on a Jalen Johnson 3-pointer with 1:11 remaining, but the Bucks responded immediately. AJ Green and Bobby Portis drilled back-to-back 3s, Johnson committed a turnover, and Antetokounmpo muscled his way inside for a basket that pushed Milwaukee ahead 109-105 with 36 seconds to play.
The Hawks still had an opportunity after Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit a 3-pointer and Ryan Rollins missed a free throw. But CJ McCollum bobbled the ball on the final possession and launched an off-balance attempt that missed, sealing the win for Milwaukee.
Atlanta nearly completed the comeback despite missing its first 21 attempts from beyond the arc. The Hawks trailed 54-38 at halftime and fell behind 74-51 midway through the third quarter before finding their rhythm.
Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 32 points, while Johnson posted 28 points and 16 rebounds. Milwaukee countered with a balanced attack, placing six players in double figures.
The Bucks made a notable lineup change, replacing Kevin Porter Jr. with Kyle Kuzma in the starting five. Porter, who had started all 22 of his games this season, came off the bench after a difficult January and finished with nine points, seven assists and six rebounds in 28 minutes.
Atlanta’s home struggles continued, as the Hawks fell to 7-13 at State Farm Arena, though they remain above .500 on the road.
The game included a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., with Martin Luther King III and his wife, Arndrea Waters King, honored during a timeout early in the third quarter.
Up next:
Milwaukee returns home Wednesday night to face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, while Atlanta travels to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies.
