Milwaukee Bucks set to rehash playoff history with Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks take 1st round series over Milwaukee Bucks in 1988 NBA Playoffs

Four years after their first meeting in the playoffs, the Bucks and Hawks met in the first round of the 1988 NBA Playoffs.

Both sides essentially switched places with one another as it was the Hawks came into that year’s postseason holding a 50-win record, which was good for the fourth seed in the East. Meanwhile, the 1987-88 season was the first post-Don Nelson and it was far bumpier ride than they anticipated as they held a 42-40 record going into the playoffs.

The Hawks struck first while on their home floor by taking Games 1 and 2, though by only a 10-point combined margin. Yet the 2-0 lead wasn’t yet secure for Atlanta as the series shifted back over to Milwaukee.

The Bucks battled back in Game 3 by taking a 123-115 victory that saw all five starters score in double figures. They followed that up with a 105-99 win in Game 4 to even up the series in part to another 30-point performance from Bucks forward Terry Cummings.

While they did plenty of work to come back in the series and avoid a sweep, the Hawks dispatched the Bucks in Game 5 with a 121-111 win to move on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and with a battle with the Boston Celtics awaiting for the Hawks.

Fortunately for the Bucks, they would get their revenge only a year later. However, it was not the sendoff they were looking for the old MECCA Arena as they would make the move to the Bradley Center going into the 1988-89 season.