Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks: Start time, where to watch, betting odds

Can the Hawks get their first win of the season on the road in Milwaukee?

It is time for the Hawks to try and get their first win of the young 2023-2024 season tonight when Atlanta goes on the road to face a Milwaukee Bucks team that is 1-0 this season but is going to be without one of their key players. 

Khris Middleton is not going to play in this game due to right knee injury management, but is expected back for Monday's matchup with the Heat, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Middleton is going to be key for the Bucks and their hopes of a championship run this season, but he will not play against the Hawks in their first matchup of the season. 

For the Hawks, they will be without Wesley Matthews (A former Buck), but they are healthy everywhere else. 

After an 0-2 start, a win on the road against one of the best teams in the NBA would be huge for the Hawks and their confidence. Milwaukee looked great on Thursday night against the 76ers and it looks like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are going to be a great pairing (duh). 

Can Atlanta stop Giannis and the Bucks tonight? / Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

The two main issues for the Hawks this season in my view have been the defense and the inability of their star guards to get going, particularly Trae Young. The Hawks gave up 20 three-pointers to the Knicks the other night, including eight to Jalen Brunson alone. 

The Knicks finished the game with 20 three-pointers and shooting 47.8% from the field and 45.5% from deep.

After the game, Snyder talked about how the Hawks need to improve on that end of the floor:

"Well, I mean, there is some when you are in help situations that guys are going to get some looks but regarding the ball, we have our hands down, just simple things like that and we have to have the discipline and there were stretches where we started doing it and they made some of them but you have to do everything you can to make that shot harder and I think our guys are aware of that and they know that we need to change and we want to. Again, execution is a funny thing. Sometimes you are not able to do it and the other team sometimes makes it hard but it has to be in the front of your mind and you have to be focused on doing it."

After the game, Young talked about his struggles and what he has to improve upon going forward.

"For me, I just have to continue to be better in every area, I have not started... I am getting assists but I mean I am turning the ball over and some of that is playing through contact and the refs not calling that and that is leading to bad shots that are going off the glass that I am getting fouled but not getting the call, I just have to play through that. I have to continue to get better in all areas not just one so I have to do that first and then the rest of the team, we are going to get better if we just listen to Quin and just continue to get these reps up and our offense I feel like... our offense is affecting our defense right now to be honest with you I think our defense has been really good but our offense maybe is... sometimes I will go up and I won't get the call and I will shoot a layup under the basket and then they are in a five on four that way so that has not been putting our team in good position so for me, I have to do better in those positions and I will and I will help my teammates out and we just have to continue to trust this process and we will be all right I believe."

Here is how you can watch tonight's game in Milwaukee. 

Viewing and Betting Information

Tip-off time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass and Bally Sports Southeast

Spread and Over/Under: The Hawks will be underdogs on the road tonight, as they are currently 7.5 point underdogs according to the latest odds from the SI Sportsbook and the over/under is set at 238.5

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Everything from Trae Young after the loss to the Knicks