Bucks Are 1 Win Away From First NBA Finals Since 1974

The Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks met for Game 5 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals Thursday without their biggest stars. Both Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Atlanta’s Trae Young were sidelined with injuries.

But the Bucks didn’t seem phased. Despite missing their two-time MVP, Milwaukee beat Atlanta 123-112. The Bucks are now one win away from their first NBA Finals since 1974.

More than 17,000 fans packed into Fiserv Forum for the game, and thousands more watched in Milwaukee’s Deer District.

There were points during this regular season when Bucks fans questioned whether their team should trade center Brook Lopez. But he was essential to Milwaukee’s Game 5 win. He had 12 points in the first quarter, including an alley oop dunk to give the Bucks a 24-10 advantage. The Bucks led by as many as 20 just minutes into the game.

“(Lopez is) such a great teammate. He always wants to be there. He wants to deliver for his team, and he stepped up big tonight,” head coach Mike Budenholzer said.

Khris Middleton opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer for Milwaukee. But it was Bobby Portis who made his presence felt in the minutes before halftime. Fans chanted his name after he made a long 2-pointer, followed by an easy layup, off a steal by Pat Connaughton, to give the Bucks a 44-28 lead. Portis started in place of Antetokounmpo in Game 5.

This is the first season in Milwaukee for Portis, who said coming here was a good career move.

“It’s a blue-collar city, and I’m a blue-collar player,” he said. “When I’m taking shots, whether they’re going in or not, I still give my all to the team, 100 percent to the name on the front of my jersey. They love players like me.”

Milwaukee benefited from steals and offensive boards, and its defense smothered Atlanta, forcing eight turnovers in the first half. But the Hawks closed the gap before halftime, cutting the lead to single digits.

The Hawks drew within 7 points during the third quarter, but after a Portis 3-pointer, giving the Bucks a 77-63 lead, Milwaukee pulled away. The Bucks finished out the quarter with a jumper from Middleton to give them a 13-point edge.

Milwaukee didn’t let up in the fourth quarter, opening with 3-pointers from Bryn Forbes and Middleton, earning a fist pump from Antetokounmpo, who watched the game from the bench. Even though he couldn’t take the court, Antetokounmpo’s presence means a lot to the team, Middleton said.

“Two-time MPV, future Hall of Famer — so when he speaks, we listen. When he’s around, we love it,” he said. “It’s hard for him to sit out in one of the biggest playoff series of his career.”

Lopez finished the game with 33 points, a playoff career high. Meanwhile, point guard Jrue Holiday posted 13 assists and a quiet 25 points. It was one of his best performances of these playoffs.

“I thought (Holiday) set the tone with his baskets early and his aggressiveness,” Budenholzer said. “We’ve got to be ready to have that same edge and that same kind of mentality going into next game.”

Bogdan Bogdanović led Atlanta in scoring with 28 points. He nearly played in Milwaukee this season, but a sign-and-trade deal with the Sacramento Kings fell apart, and the shooting guard signed with the Hawks.

Game 6 is set for Saturday in Atlanta. It’s unclear whether Antetokounmpo or Young will return this series. Antetokounmpo hyperextended his knee in Game 4, which the Bucks lost to the Hawks in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Young suffered a bruised bone in his foot during Game 3.

This postseason has been largely shaped by injuries. The Bucks advanced to the conference finals over the Brooklyn Nets. Two of their top players — James Harden and Kyrie Irving — were out with injuries at various points in that series. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Clipper star Kawhi Leonard missed the Western Conference finals with a knee injury.

Fortunately, the Bucks were able to rule out any structural damage on Antetokounmpo’s knee Wednesday with an MRI. But basketball superstar LeBron James and others have argued the large number of injuries this postseason could have been avoided with a longer offseason.

Last year’s NBA season was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The finals didn’t wrap up until late September — with James’ Los Angeles Lakers winning the title — before another regular season began in December.

The Phoenix Suns have already punched their ticket to the NBA Finals.