In the regular-season finale, a game that meant nothing, the Hawks accomplished one thing. They escaped uninjured.
Now, it’s on to the playoffs.
The Hawks rested their regular starters for much of the game. They still defeated the lowly Bucks 111-103 in the regular-season finale Wednesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The Hawks played without Paul Millsap and limited the minutes of their other starters. Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, DeMarre Carroll and Pero Antic came out of the game midway through the third quarter and did not return. Each played less than 24 minutes. Only Mike Scott, subbing for Millsap, played fourth-quarter minutes.
The Hawks will open the playoffs Saturday with a Game 1 matchup against the Pacers in Indianapolis.
The Hawks (38-44) finished the regular season by winning six of the final eight games. They have won seven straight games against the Bucks, including all three games this season, and four in a row in Milwaukee.
Scott led the Hawks with 17 points. Mike Muscala finished with a career-high 15 points. Cartier Martin (14 points), Carroll (13), Teague (11) and Shelvin Mack (10) were the other double-digit scorers. Teague has scored in double figures in 12 straight games, improving on the longest stretch of his career.
The Hawks opened the fourth quarter with a 15-4 run to take a 10-point lead, 97-97, in a game the trailed throughout.
The Bucks (15-67) finished a dismal season under former Hawks coach Larry Drew. Brandon Knight led the Bucks with a game-high 31 points.
Little defense was played in the first half, especially the opening quarter. The Bucks led 39-29 after shooting 75 percent (15 of 20) in the first period. They made their first seven shots and would lead by as many as 14 points. The Hawks shots 65 percent (13 of 20).
The Bucks had another 14-point advantage, 54-40, midway through the second quarter. The Hawks answered with a 15-2 run to pull to within a point. Knight scored seven straight points and the Bucks led 63-58 at intermission following Scott’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Both teams shot over 60 percent in the half, the Bucks 63.2 and the Hawks 60.5.
The Hawks took their first lead since they were up 5-4 on three Pero Antic free throws with 5:47 left in the third quarter. They would lead by five, 82-77, after nine straight Williams’ points. The Bucks closed on a 6-0 run to take an 83-82 advantage into the final quarter.
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