NBA Playoff DifferenceMakers: July 3, 2021

What were the key stats and moments from the Milwaukee Bucks’ conference-title-clinching win over the Atlanta Hawks?

Milwaukee Bucks 118, Atlanta Hawks 107

Bucks win series 4-2

FINAL BOX SCORE

After an emphatic Game 5 win, the Milwaukee Bucks were in position to clinch their first conference title since 1974. However, inconsistency has been the Milwaukee Bucks’ calling card not only during this postseason, but throughout the entire Mike Budenholzer Era. With the NBA Finals in reach, would the Bucks maintain their momentum and close the deal on Saturday night?

Yes. Yes they would. In fact, for the second consecutive game, the Bucks never trailed from tip-off to final buzzer.

The big turning point in this game was Milwaukee’s 44-29 third quarter. Khris Middleton scored 23 of his 32 points in the period. He shot 8-of-12 (66.7 percent) from the field, including four 3-pointers. The Bucks would eventually go up by as many as 22 points early in the fourth. Atlanta would outscore Milwaukee 35-24 the rest of the way, but the Bucks’ big third created enough of a cushion to stave off the Hawks’ run.

Both teams had six double-digit scorers, but they didn’t bare out the same production. Milwaukee’s six outscored Atlanta’s 108-95. Middleton’s 32 points were a game-high, supplemented by Jrue Holiday’s 27 points. Conversely, Trae Young had just 14 points on 4-of-17 shooting. Cam Reddish was actually the one to pace Atlanta in scoring with 21 points from off the bench.

As I’ve said throughout these playoffs, the Bucks enters these games as the better team on paper. But their energy level and execution has vacillated throughout this postseason, it’s hard to tell if they would fulfill their potential. Things looked uncertain even at the end of Game 4!

In the end, however, the Bucks rallied together in the absence of their superstar and dominated the last two games. By playing to the fullest, they earned a piece of hardware that they’ve been capable of gaining for several years. Congratulations to the 2021 Eastern Conference Champion Milwaukee Bucks!!