NBA: Milwaukee holds off Atlanta to remain unbeaten in five games

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are the only undefeated squad in the NBA. (Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press)

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Milwaukee Bucks continued their unstoppable surge and outdueled the revamped Atlanta Hawks, 123-115, to extend their undefeated NBA winning streak to five-straight games on October 30, 2022.

Milwaukee survived a 42-point output from Hawks’ superstar point guard Trae Young who just went unconscious against the Bucks’ physical backcourt defense.

It was a nip-and-tuck affair in the first three quarters as Young had his way against Milwaukee while Giannis Antetokounmpo and his supporting cast delivered a well-balanced attack.

Brook Lopez finally recorded a much-needed breakout game and sank all of his first four shots from the three-point area to end with 21 points, six rebounds, and a steal.

However, as Milwaukee attempted to pull away several times after maintaining the lead at 10 points in the third frame, Young and Dejounte Murray came right back with the offensive answer that kept them within striking distance.

The newly-acquired star from the San Antonio Spurs delivered in the clutch and helped Atlanta trim Milwaukee’s lead to just a point, 114-113, after hitting a perimeter jumper in the left elbow.

However, Antetokounmpo quickly answered with an early dagger after converting on a tough fade-away shot in the left block to extend the Bucks’ lead to three points, 116-113.

Young attempted to lead Atlanta’s comeback in the last 42 seconds after a drained step-back shot but Jrue Holiday buried the exclamation point with a leftie floater that denied the Hawks another basket.

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with another all-around performance of 34 points, 17 rebounds, and four assists while recording 11 made shots out of his 22 total attempts.

Backstopping Antetokounmpo was Holiday who tallied the same amount of points alongside 12 assists, four steals, and two boards.

Milwaukee is looking to extend its winning streak to six as they face the Detroit Pistons tomorrow while Atlanta is seeking to bounce back on the same date against the Toronto Raptors.