The Hawks had no answers for Milwaukee’s relentless offense in Milwaukee’s 123-112 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. Hawks coach Nate McMillan said that he couldn’t explain why his team’s defense disappeared in Game 5: “We knew that they were going to come with that sense of urgency tonight” … “they were going to continue to attack even without Giannis in the lineup. That’s just how they play … They just dominated the paint tonight.”
In Game 4, the Hawks played their best defensive game of the series, as they held the Bucks to 44 points in the paint. Now that Milwaukee is up 3-2 in the series, odds have shifted once again. Prior to Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bucks were an eye-popping -1500 favorites to move on to The NBA Finals, while the Hawks were +870 underdogs.
As the series headed back to Milwaukee for Game 5, the Hawks were two-point underdogs, and the over/under was set at 215.5, according to FanDuel. With the uncertainty surrounding the two superstars, Trae Young and Giannis Antetokounmpo, oddsmakers are staying away from any ridiculous series prices. Before Game 4, FanDuel saw the Hawks as slight underdogs to win the series at -102 odds.
Now, the Hawks are 2.5-point home favorites for Game 6, a potential elimination game. Atlanta has their backs against the wall; it’s win or go home. The Hawks are +290 underdogs to win the series outright, which would have to come in Game 7, while the Bucks are -360 favorites to take the series, which they can do in Game 6 or Game 7.
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