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 Wednesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The Hawks played without Paul Millsap for a second straight game 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, who started for Millsap, played fourth-quarter minutes.
“It is important that we keep our guys as healthy as possible,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Nobody this time of year feels 100 percent but we feel fortunate that we are in a relatively healthy place moving into the weekend.”
The Hawks will open the playoffs Saturday with a Game 1 matchup against the Pacers in Indianapolis.
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.
“There were a couple of guys who needed some rest so let’s take it,” Korver said. “It felt good today to play some minutes and get some timing. You don’t want to take off a whole week and then go play a playoff game. It’s just not ideal. Just go out there and even if you don’t shoot a lot, get some contact, play some defense and run around.”
Millsap said he needed the time off to give an ailing right thumb some rest.
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.
The Hawks opened the fourth quarter with a 15-4 run to take a 10-point lead, 97-97, in a game the trailed by as many as 14 points.
The Bucks (15-67) finished a dismal season under former Hawks coach Larry Drew. Brandon Knight led their cause 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).
“I think the defense after the first quarter really picked up,” Budenholzer said. “It was where we wanted it to be and needed it to be. I was happy with the change in mentality, the change in focus from the first quarter on.”
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 Antic free throws with 5:47 left in the third quarter. They would lead by five, 82-77, after nine straight Lou Williams’ points. The Bucks closed on a 6-0 run to take an 83-82 advantage into the final quarter before the Hawks regained control.
Good to win the final game, coach?
“Not very important,” Budenholzer said of the win. “It’s just important that we continue to build and grow. I think that is what is most important to us. To be able to change our focus the last three quarters was important. Our group is in a good place heading into the weekend.”
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