The Hawks are headed in the wrong direction.
Fast.
Michael Carter-Williams scored six straight points to start the second overtime for the Bucks in a 117-109 victory Saturday night at Philips Arena.
The Hawks were outscored 12-4 in the second five-minute period as they fell to 0-3 in overtime games this season.
The Hawks (31-26) have lost two straight, both at home following the All-Star break, and four of their last five games as they slide down the Eastern Conference standings. Next up for the Hawks are the NBA-best Warriors on Monday.
The Bucks (23-33) won for just the third time in the past seven games.
Here are the key players and five observations on the game:
Three key players
Jabari Parker: The Bucks forward finished with a game-high 28 points and 13 rebounds.
Dennis Schroder: The Hawks guard came off the bench and had 25 points, including a game-tying layup with three seconds left in regulation and a 3-pointer to start overtime.
Paul Millsap: The Hawks forward had a team-high 27 points and 11 rebounds.
Five observations
1. Back in it
The Hawks trailed by 10 points, 74-64, late in the third quarter. They went on an 18-7 run between the third and fourth quarters to take a one-point edge, 82-81, on a Millsap basket with 6:53 remaining. The game remained close and was tied 92-92 with 1:11 remaining. Khris Middleton made a free throw with 24.8 seconds left and the Hawks missed two chances on the ensuing possession. O.J. Mayo made only one free throw with 6.1 seconds left giving the Hawks one final chance. Schroder drove for a layup to tie the game at 94 with 3.0 seconds left. A Parker last-second shot was too late to force overtime. Al Horford scored six points in the first overtime, including a game-tying basket with 8.4 seconds left, to force a second extra period.
2. Rebounding prowess
The Bucks had a distinct rebounding advantage. They finished regulation with a 53-41 edge (including 16-8 in the second quarter) and a 21-7 advantage in second-chance points. For the game, the total difference was 65-49. The Bucks dominated on the boards in the January meeting between the teams in Milwaukee 60-43, including 21-7 on the offensive glass.
3. Teague injured
Jeff Teague suffered an apparent right wrist injury in the third quarter. He came out of the game with 6:44 left in the period. Although the Hawks starting point guard remained on the bench, he did not return until 6:35 left in the fourth quarter for a brief stint when Schroder hit the ground hard. Teague finished with five points and five assists. Schroder had a big game with 25 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
4. Bucks’ 1-2 punch
The Bucks feature a dynamic pair of young forwards in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Parker. The duo scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, in the first half as they combined for 26 of the Bucks’ 54 points (on 10 of 18 shooting). They also combined for 10 rebounds. They combined for 43 points and 22 rebounds in regulation. Antetokounmpo fouled out in the fourth quarter.
5. Reversal of fortune
The Bucks started the game 8 of 12 from the field, while the Hawks were 3 of 7, and opened up a nine-point lead, 18-9. The Hawks ended the first quarter 9 of 12 from the field, while the Bucks were 4 of 15, and used a 9-0 run to erase the deficit. The Bucks took a 31-29 lead after the opening quarter only after Middleton made two straight baskets to end a field-goal drought of 3:04. Millsap scored nine of the Hawks’ first 16 points.
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