Bucks roll 144-112 in Budenholzer's 1st game vs Hawks
MILWAUKEE (AP) The last thing the Milwaukee Bucks wanted on Friday was a grind-it-out game, with Eastern Conference rival Toronto coming to town the next night to complete a back-to-back set.
No need to worry in Mike Budenholzer's first game against his former team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 16 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in just 19 minutes, and the Bucks starters got plenty of rest in a 144-112 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Khris Middleton scored 19 points while hitting all four of his 3-point attempts. Malcolm Brogdon also scored 19 and point guard Eric Bledsoe added 14 points and eight assists for the Bucks, who led 43-14 after 12 minutes.
''Obviously, the first quarter (we) threw a big punch on both ends of the court,'' Budenholzer said. ''I thought the effort by Eric Bledsoe was great. To have that kind of lead and set the tone, the starters were phenomenal.''
Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Milwaukee starters did not play in the fourth quarter.
''It was huge,'' Middleton said. ''We get off to a great start, set the tone early and keep it going the whole game. Hopefully it can prepare us for tomorrow.''
Milwaukee (27-10) improved its NBA-best record as it won its fifth straight and for the ninth time in 10 games. The Bucks tied a season high for points in a game, equaling their total against Sacramento on Nov. 4, and scored more than 140 for a league-best third time.
''They're the No. 1 team in the league right now,'' Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said. ''They're playing with an edge and we saw that tonight.
''We just didn't have it. That's part of our growing pains and part of our growth, to understand that you have to go through these things.''
Toronto (28-12) is coming off a road loss to San Antonio and already has lost the first two games against Milwaukee this season. The Bucks could capture the season tiebreaker with another win Saturday.
''It's neck-and-neck right now,'' Middleton said. ''But we try to keep the focus on us. It's a long season. We're not complacent with where we're at right now. We still can be better in some areas so we're going to stay hungry.''
Budenholzer led the Hawks to the playoffs in four of his five seasons with the team and his 2014-15 squad won 60 games and reached the Eastern Conference finals.
The rebuilding Hawks (11-27) were no match for the Bucks, who led by as many as 38 points in the first half. Milwaukee took a 76-43 halftime lead, tying the second-largest halftime lead in franchise history and the largest since 1978.
Milwaukee extended the lead to as many as 46 points in the fourth quarter.
DeAndre Bembry led Atlanta with 19 points and Dewayne Dedmon had 14 while hitting 4 of 9 3-pointers.
The Bucks had 12 players score eight or more points - the most by any team in a game since the 1976-77 season.
TIP-INS
Hawks: Atlanta has two rookies making major contributions: fifth overall pick Trae Young, acquired in a draft-night deal with Dallas; and 19th overall pick Kevin Huerter. Young, the former Oklahoma star and 6-foot-2 guard, entered Friday averaging 15.4 points and 7.4 assists. He had only two points in the first three quarters but finished with 13 points in 31 minutes. Huerter, who played at Maryland, scored a personal-best 22 points at Indiana on Dec. 31 and had 12 points in 44 minutes against Washington on Wednesday. ''We played him 40 minutes in Indiana and he gets a career high,'' Pierce said. ''It was kind of a lesson to me. Play him more. Get him more shots and his shot attempts have gone up in every month, so we're finding more productivity with more opportunity. So, it's my job to get him more opportunity.''�Huerter scored 10 points Friday. ... Former Bucks forward Miles Plumlee (left knee pain) was unavailable for the Hawks after being ruled out following the team's morning shootaround.
Bucks: Veteran forward Ersan Ilyasova returned to the lineup for the first time since breaking his nose in practice on Dec. 16. Second-year forward D.J. Wilson has played well in Ilyasova's absence, and Budenholzer said he wasn't sure how he would distribute playing time. ''It's the hard part about our league,'' Budenholzer said. ''When you have a roster with a lot of depth and a lot of good players, sometimes you have to make hard decisions. Sometimes you play a little bigger rotation. But we've certainly been happy with D.J., happy with Thon (Maker). Ersan is a veteran guy and we're happy to have him back. This league is amazing how opportunity is always right around the corner if someone isn't playing.'' Ilyasova drew a charge - his specialty - just 13 seconds after entering the game in the first quarter. He finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in 19 minutes.
UP NEXT
Hawks: Host Miami on Sunday.
Bucks: Host Toronto on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:45 | Bad pass turnover on Brook Lopez, stolen by Trae Young | |||
11:33 | DeWayne Dedmon missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
11:30 | Defensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
11:23 | +3 | Brook Lopez made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Giannis Antetokounmpo | 0-3 | |
11:03 | +2 | Kevin Huerter made jump shot, assist by DeWayne Dedmon | 2-3 | |
10:54 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe made layup | 2-5 | |
10:30 | Defensive rebound by Daniel Hamilton | |||
10:20 | +2 | Malcolm Brogdon made dunk, assist by Giannis Antetokounmpo | 5-7 | |
10:08 | Offensive foul on DeWayne Dedmon | |||
10:08 | Offensive foul on DeWayne Dedmon | |||
9:58 | Brook Lopez missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:55 | Defensive rebound by John Collins | |||
9:48 | Trae Young missed jump shot | |||
9:46 | John Collins missed dunk, blocked by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
9:44 | MIL team rebound | |||
9:20 | Lost ball turnover on DeWayne Dedmon, stolen by Eric Bledsoe | |||
9:18 | Personal foul on Daniel Hamilton | |||
9:13 | +2 | Malcolm Brogdon made reverse layup, assist by Giannis Antetokounmpo | 5-11 | |
8:56 | +2 | Trae Young made floating jump shot | 7-11 | |
8:48 | Shooting foul on John Collins | |||
8:48 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made 1st of 2 free throws | 7-12 | |
8:48 | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made 2nd of 2 free throws | 7-13 | |
8:36 | Trae Young missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
8:33 | Defensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
8:27 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made driving layup | 7-15 | |
8:08 | +3 | Khris Middleton made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Giannis Antetokounmpo | 7-18 | |
7:57 | Personal foul on Eric Bledsoe | |||
7:51 | Traveling violation turnover on Alex Len | |||
7:32 | Malcolm Brogdon missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:31 | Offensive rebound by Eric Bledsoe | |||
7:24 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe made layup | 7-20 | |
7:13 | Trae Young missed jump shot | |||
7:10 | Defensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
7:01 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made jump shot | 7-22 | |
6:44 | +2 | Kevin Huerter made jump shot | 9-22 | |
6:33 | +2 | Malcolm Brogdon made driving layup | 9-24 | |
6:11 | Defensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
5:54 | Bad pass turnover on DeAndre' Bembry, stolen by Khris Middleton | |||
5:50 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made dunk, assist by Malcolm Brogdon | 9-26 | |
5:31 | Shooting foul on Khris Middleton | |||
5:31 | +1 | DeAndre' Bembry made free throw | 12-26 | |
5:17 | +3 | Brook Lopez made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Eric Bledsoe | 12-29 | |
5:00 | Justin Anderson missed driving layup | |||
4:58 | Defensive rebound by Eric Bledsoe | |||
4:54 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe made layup | 12-31 | |
4:38 | Jeremy Lin missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:29 | Eric Bledsoe missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:25 | Defensive rebound by DeAndre' Bembry | |||
4:21 | DeAndre' Bembry missed jump shot | |||
4:17 | Defensive rebound by D.J. Wilson | |||
4:07 | Khris Middleton missed reverse layup | |||
4:04 | Defensive rebound by Alex Len | |||
4:04 | Offensive foul on Justin Anderson | |||
4:04 | Offensive foul on Justin Anderson | |||
3:50 | +2 | Ersan Ilyasova made layup, assist by Khris Middleton | 12-33 | |
3:39 | Shooting foul on Ersan Ilyasova | |||
3:39 | ATL team rebound | |||
3:39 | Justin Anderson missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
3:39 | Justin Anderson missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
3:37 | Defensive rebound by Ersan Ilyasova | |||
3:23 | George Hill missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:23 | ATL team rebound | |||
3:23 | Personal foul on Tony Snell | |||
3:14 | DeAndre' Bembry missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:11 | Defensive rebound by D.J. Wilson | |||
2:50 | Defensive rebound by Ersan Ilyasova | |||
2:32 | Defensive rebound by Justin Anderson | |||
2:29 | Offensive foul on Alex Len | |||
2:29 | Offensive foul on Alex Len | |||
2:11 | George Hill missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
2:05 | Defensive rebound by Trae Young | |||
2:00 | Offensive rebound by Daniel Hamilton | |||
1:59 | +2 | Daniel Hamilton made dunk | 14-36 | |
1:38 | +2 | D.J. Wilson made dunk, assist by Pat Connaughton | 14-38 | |
1:17 | Vince Carter missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:14 | Defensive rebound by Ersan Ilyasova | |||
1:04 | Pat Connaughton missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:55 | DeWayne Dedmon missed hook shot | |||
0:52 | Defensive rebound by Ersan Ilyasova | |||
0:50 | Pat Connaughton missed driving layup, blocked by Vince Carter | |||
0:50 | MIL team rebound | |||
0:44 | +3 | Tony Snell made 3-pt. jump shot | 14-41 | |
0:28 | DeWayne Dedmon missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:24 | Defensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
0:07 | +2 | Pat Connaughton made hook shot, assist by Giannis Antetokounmpo | 14-43 | |
0:02 | Traveling violation turnover on DeWayne Dedmon | |||
0:00 | Giannis Antetokounmpo missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:46 | +2 | Kevin Huerter made driving layup | 16-43 | |
11:32 | Brook Lopez missed driving layup | |||
11:28 | Offensive rebound by George Hill | |||
11:22 | Offensive rebound by Malcolm Brogdon | |||
11:06 | Defensive rebound by Trae Young | |||
11:00 | +3 | Kevin Huerter made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Trae Young | 19-43 | |
10:32 | MIL team rebound | |||
10:32 | Personal foul on Trae Young | |||
10:24 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made jump shot | 19-45 | |
10:06 | Bad pass turnover on DeWayne Dedmon, stolen by Tony Snell | |||
10:04 | Personal foul on DeWayne Dedmon | |||
10:02 | Eric Bledsoe missed alley-oop shot | |||
9:59 | Defensive rebound by DeWayne Dedmon | |||
9:52 | Trae Young missed floating jump shot, blocked by Eric Bledsoe | |||
9:48 | Defensive rebound by Malcolm Brogdon | |||
9:42 | Malcolm Brogdon missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:39 | Defensive rebound by John Collins | |||
9:29 | Shooting foul on Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
9:29 | +1 | John Collins made 1st of 2 free throws | 20-45 | |
9:29 | John Collins missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
9:25 | Defensive rebound by Brook Lopez | |||
9:10 | Shooting foul on John Collins | |||
9:10 | Brook Lopez missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
9:10 | MIL team rebound | |||
9:10 | +1 | Brook Lopez made 2nd of 2 free throws | 20-46 | |
8:49 | Kevin Huerter missed floating jump shot | |||
8:49 | MIL team rebound | |||
8:35 | Offensive rebound by Giannis Antetokounmpo | |||
8:34 | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo made dunk | 20-48 | |
8:20 | +2 | Alex Len made dunk, assist by Daniel Hamilton | 22-48 | |
8:03 | Defensive rebound by Alex Len | |||
7:56 | John Collins missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:52 | Defensive rebound by Eric Bledsoe | |||
7:46 | +2 | Malcolm Brogdon made driving layup | 22-50 | |
7:26 | John Collins missed driving layup, blocked by Brook Lopez | |||
7:23 | Defensive rebound by Eric Bledsoe | |||
7:21 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe made layup | 22-52 | |
7:05 | +2 | DeWayne Dedmon made jump shot, assist by Trae Young | 24-52 | |
6:43 | +2 | Malcolm Brogdon made reverse layup | 24-54 | |
6:27 | +3 | DeWayne Dedmon made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Trae Young | 27-54 | |
6:14 | +2 | Khris Middleton made floating jump shot | 27-56 | |
5:54 | Lost ball turnover on Daniel Hamilton, stolen by Khris Middleton | |||
5:44 | Bad pass turnover on Malcolm Brogdon, stolen by John Collins | |||
5:41 | +2 | John Collins made dunk, assist by Trae Young | 29-56 | |
5:41 | Shooting foul on Brook Lopez | |||
5:41 | John Collins missed free throw | |||
5:31 | Defensive rebound by Ersan Ilyasova | |||
5:31 | Shooting foul on DeAndre' Bembry | |||
5:31 | Khris Middleton missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
5:31 | MIL team rebound | |||
5:31 | +1 | Khris Middleton made 2nd of 2 free throws | 29-57 | |
5:07 | Defensive rebound by Eric Bledsoe | |||
5:05 | +2 | Eric Bledsoe made reverse layup | 29-59 | |
4:48 | Bad pass turnover on Trae Young, stolen by D.J. Wilson | |||
4:43 | Eric Bledsoe missed layup | |||
4:42 | +2 | George Hill made dunk | 29-61 | |
4:29 | Personal foul on Eric Bledsoe | |||
4:18 | +2 | DeAndre' Bembry made reverse layup | 31-61 | |
4:07 | +2 | Ersan Ilyasova made jump shot, assist by Eric Bledsoe | 31-63 | |
3:42 | Kevin Huerter missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:39 | Defensive rebound by George Hill | |||
3:27 | Ersan Ilyasova missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:27 | ATL team rebound | |||
3:19 | Personal foul on Pat Connaughton | |||
3:12 | Bad pass turnover on Kevin Huerter, stolen by George Hill | |||
3:09 | Shooting foul on DeWayne Dedmon | |||
3:09 | +1 | George Hill made 1st of 2 free throws | 31-64 | |
3:09 | +1 | George Hill made 2nd of 2 free throws | 31-65 | |
2:58 |