Bucks blister Hawks in Game 3

By Michael Cunningham

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

MILWAUKEE -- Pummeled at the start of one playoff game in Atlanta and dominated by the Hawks’ frontcourt in both contests, the Bucks turned it all around for Game 3.

The Bucks dazed the Hawks with a sizzling start, and guards Brandon Jennings and John Salmons ran circles around them for a punishing 107-89 victory on Saturday at the Bradley Center.

The Bucks earned their first victory of the series with their best effort by far. The Hawks trailed 36-19 after the first quarter and, other than briefly cutting the lead to nine points in the third quarter, never recovered.

It was a stunning shift in momentum after the Hawks took control of the series with two convincing victories at home. Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Monday at the Bradley Center.

“It’s unacceptable to get blown out like this,” said Hawks guard Joe Johnson. “We’ll look at the tape and correct our mistakes, but more than anything it’s about coming out and playing with more effort.”

Milwaukee struggled to match Josh Smith and Al Horford inside for the first two games and couldn’t get consistent scoring from anyone. The Bucks also were rattled at times by fans at Philips Arena.

This time Smith and Horford were ineffective, the Bucks got contributions from everyone and their rowdy fans urged them to a dominating victory.

“They did us like we did them,” said Hawks guard Jamal Crawford. “They protected their home court.”

Hawks players tried to stay positive by noting they still have home-court advantage in the series. Good thing, because they were a mediocre road team this season and have one road playoff victory in their past three postseasons.

Faced with their first road game of these playoffs, the Hawks got pushed around.

“They were the most physical team tonight, and it showed on the scoreboard,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “We just didn’t match any of their ‘physicalness’ to start the game.”

Neither could the Hawks control Jennings and Salmons. Salmons scored 22 points, and Jennings had 13 as the guards combined for 14-of-22 shooting and 12 assists with only one turnover.

The Bucks also finally figured out Horford and Smith. Horford had two points at halftime and finished with 10 while Smith missed eight of 10 shots for the game.

Smith’s struggles delighted Bucks fans after he had told media there is “nothing to do” in Milwaukee. He was heckled by fans behind the Hawks’ bench as he sat and watched the Bucks finish the lopsided victory.

Smith was unapologetic afterward.

“I didn’t say anything about their fans,” he said. “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. Some people have different opinions. I gave my opinion and I’m entitled to it.”

That sideshow ended up being secondary to the game, which the Bucks controlled from start to finish.

The Bucks made seven of nine field-goal attempts to race to a 17-5 lead. Milwaukee made nine consecutive field goals in the first quarter.

Salmons and Jennings combined for 22 points in the quarter while missing only one of 10 shots between them. Those two outscored the Hawks in that quarter, who made only seven field goals on 20 attempts.

The Hawks had said they expected the Bucks to rally in their first home game of the series, but they didn’t look ready for the opening blitz.

“Honestly I have no idea [why],” Johnson said. “We knew what to expect, and we knew what was at stake. For us to come out the way we started is unacceptable, and that’s on us starters.”

The Hawks settled down in the second quarter but still couldn’t make up much ground. They made only eight of 22 shots in the period and trailed 52-40 at halftime.

Johnson scored five consecutive points to pull the Hawks within 54-45 early in the third quarter. But Marvin Williams had his shot blocked twice and Smith missed a jump shot, and then Milwaukee regained control with a 10-0 run.

Milwaukee led by as many as 28 points in the fourth quarter.

“They dominated the first two games, and our goal was to come out and play with energy, intensity and play the way we know we can play,” Skiles said. “We did that for long stretches.”