Bucks Beat Hawks, Head To NBA Finals For 1st Time Since 1974

The Milwaukee Bucks are headed back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974.

They didn’t even need two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to lock up their spot. Khris Middleton scored 32 points, including a run of 16 straight points in a decisive third quarter for a 118-107 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference final.

Milwaukee won the series 4-2, advancing to face the Suns in the NBA Finals.

Trae Young returned to the Hawks’ lineup after missing two games with a foot injury. But it wasn’t enough to extend Atlanta’s surprising playoff run.

Eastern Conference Championship @Bucks pic.twitter.com/f6fOMPQXiS

— Corri Hess (@CorriHess) July 4, 2021

Milwaukee fans packed the Deer District outside the Fiserv Forum to watch the game. They were in high spirits following the win.

Jamal Washington, a lifetime Milwaukee resident, said he has watched the Bucks his entire life.

“It’s a great time to be in Milwaukee, to be a Bucks fan, ” Washington said. “It’s exciting… everybody in the city just feels better. The air feels better, the sun is shining brighter, the birds chirp a little better. It’s just an amazing time to be in Milwaukee.”

Jerica Keifenheim, of Milwaukee, and Jackie Bezik, of Muskego, said they’ve watched every game and hoped the Bucks could get to NBA Finals in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“It’s so exciting for the city. I mean we’ve been waiting for this for so long,” Bezik said.

After the win, Keifenheim said the energy of the crown added to the excitement.

“Everyone is just thrilled to be here, your hair is standing up on your arms, just feeling and seeing that score,” Keifenheim said.

Tracey Rodgers, of Milwaukee, was in tears of joy, remembering her brother, an avid Bucks fan, who lost his life to COVID-19 last year.

“My brother passed last year (of) COVID, Bucks’ number one fan. We came to every game, season ticket holders. … Last year, we couldn’t be here, and he left, and here we can do this, 2021, we got this. I am so excited,” she said.

“Milwaukee needs this. We need this to reunite us, to get us on the right track,” Rodgers added.

Editor’s note: WPR’s Corrinne Hess and Alyssa Allemand contributed to this report.