Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 123-112 Game 5 win over Atlanta Hawks
Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton take the reins in Milwaukee Bucks’ Game 5 win
Portis did his part to step up in Antetokounmpo’s absence, but both Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton had the much harder job of replacing Antetokounmpo’s role and usage while on the floor. It’s safe to say both Holiday and Middleton took the reins and were the key drivers behind the Bucks’ most efficient performance this series, per NBA.com/stats.
Holiday posted 25 points on 9-for-20 shooting (3-for-8 from three, 4-for-5 from the foul line), 13 assists and six rebounds, two turnovers and a steal in nearly 42 minutes of run. Middleton, meanwhile, compiled 26 points on 10-for-20 shooting (2-for-6 from downtown, 4-for-5 from the free throw line), 13 rebounds, eight assists and two steals in nearly 45 minutes of run.
Both Holiday and Middleton equally had their pulse on the game and the Bucks’ ability to control the tempo that was key in fending off the Hawks. And they did so in their own ways.
Holiday set the tone early for the smash mouth-like offense the Bucks deployed as they repeatedly got into the teeth of the Hawks’ interior defense and feasted at the rim. Along with that, the veteran guard’s paint penetration opened up easy feeds for the Bucks’ bigs, specifically Brook Lopez, and Holiday was supremely crisp with his decision making on the ball.
The same could easily be said for Middleton and the combination of both Holiday and Middleton’s probing led to them combining for 21 of the Bucks’ 28 assists. Rounding it all out was Middleton’s strong shotmaking and his exceptional finishing inside the paint. Just look at how Middleton put Kevin Huerter in this vicious spin cycle and was able to finish around Hawks center Clint Capela at the basket.
Antetokounmpo’s absence only heightened the need for Holiday and Middleton to step up as needed to take a win for Game 5. That’s exactly what they did and they’ll need something similar to close out this series next time.