Bucks Zone

3 key takeaways from the Milwaukee Bucks’ win over the Atlanta Hawks

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday put up 34-point double-doubles to help the Bucks stay unbeaten

Matthew Dugandzic

© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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The Milwaukee Bucks remain the only unbeaten team in the league after a 123-115 home win against the Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young put on a show for the Hawks with a 42-point performance, but the Bucks withstood his scoring effort for their fifth win of the season.

Holiday had an impactful night

Jrue Holiday played with a chip on his shoulder, trying to send a message to his brothers on the Hawks. He logged a double-double with 34 points and 12 assists while contributing on the defensive end with four steals and a block.

“We really just stayed confident,” Holiday said. “I don't think we felt any type of pressure. We kind of knew what we had to do. Down the stretch, we did a great job."

Giannis’ late offensive surge

Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled on offense in the first half, scoring only four points. However, he kept his energy high and tried contributing in other areas. Things slowly shifted in the second half as he started attacking the rim more. He dropped 13 points in the third quarter and 17 points in the fourth, taking his total to 34 points in 32 minutes.

Antetokounmpo was efficient on the boards, grabbing 17 rebounds – including five on the offensive glass. So far, he’s recorded a double-double in all five games of the season, taking his averages to an impressive 34.4 points and 14 rebounds. 

Lopez was hot from deep

As Giannis fought an offensive drought in the first half, quite a few of his teammates stepped up. Brook Lopez was one of them, shooting an efficient 62.5% from beyond the arc (5-8).

Lopez also brought his usual intensity on the defensive end, racking up two blocks and a steal. He finished the game with 21 points and six rebounds, coming up with a crucial contribution.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.