MILWAUKEE -- Even though Trae Young, Atlanta's star guard, didn't play for the second consecutive game, the Hawks couldn't stop the Bucks relentless attack on the rim Thursday night in Milwaukee’s 123-112 win in Game 5.The win brought the Bucks to within one victory of the NBA Finals for the first time in almost 50 years, even though they were missing their star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.The Hawks won't be able to defend the paint if they don't have a solution, and Young might not return from his deep bone bruise in the right foot.Hawks coach Nate McMillan stated that he could not explain why his team's defense vanished in Game 5.McMillan stated, "We knew they were going to arrive with this sense of urgency tonight." "They were going continue to attack even with Giannis out of the lineup. This is how they play. They just dominated the paint tonight." They just won the paint tonight."Atlanta was at its most defensive in Game 4. The Bucks were held to 44 points in the paint in Game 4. This is after the Bucks allowed an average of over 60 in each of their first three games.However, in Game 5, things quickly reverted to how they were earlier in the series. Antetokounmpo was still out of action with hyperextended left knee. The Bucks scored 28 points in quarter one and 44 at half. This equals their total for Game 4.McMillan stated that "they were more physical." McMillan said, "They struck us in the mouth and we didn't recover."They were aggressive. They were aggressive. From start to finish, they were the more physically and aggressive team.Thursday's game was a chance for the Hawks to replicate their effort in Game 4 at Atlanta's State Farm Arena without Young. It wasn't long before it became apparent that Fiserv Forum was going to be a completely different game.The Hawks took a 10-2 lead in Game 4 and forced a timeout. In Game 5, the Bucks reversed the situation, opening the game with four consecutive shots.Antetokounmpo was absent from their first full-time game, and the Bucks could not have started better. Atlanta finally looked like the young, mostly inexperienced team it is after opening the playoffs with an impressive 6-2 road record, including three Game 1 wins.The Bucks made it a point to pound the Hawks inside. Brook Lopez, center, still leads Milwaukee's size advantage across the court even without Antetokounmpo.Although Lopez is now known for his floor-spacing prowess in recent seasons, he started his career with the Brooklyn Nets as one of the top low-post scorers in all of basketball. In Game 5, Lopez returned to his roots, repeatedly defeating Clint Capela, Hawks' starting center, and Onyeka Okongwu for scores.Lopez stated, "I'm trying to help my team whenever possible. It was great to see all the basketball players working together today on defense and offense. We played off each other, making plays and making extra passes. It was great fun.Lopez made several unguarded forays at the rim to score massive slams, en route to scoring 33 points after shooting 14-for-18 in just 37 minutes.John Collins, Hawks forward, said that "I don’t know why we came down flat. But it hurt us tonight." "Sometimes stuff happens in the NBA."The Hawks were trailing by 20 points at one point in the first quarter. It was a difficult battle for them. Atlanta managed to slowly get back into the game and pulled within nine at halftime.Instead of pulling off an epic comeback like they did against the Philadelphia 76ers (26-point comeback), the Hawks spent the second half getting beaten to submission by the larger, more physical Bucks.Milwaukee received a career-high 22 points from Bobby Portis (antetokounmpo’s replacement in the starting line-up), along with 25 points and 13 assists by Jrue Holiday, 26 points and 13 rebounds, and eight assists by Khris Middleton."I know that we are fearless and we are tough," Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic said. He had an impressive second consecutive game for Atlanta with 28 points, five rebounds and four assists and was undoubtedly the team's only bright spot. "I know that we will respond."The series now shifts to Atlanta, with their season at stake Saturday night. The Hawks will be watching to see if Young can return to the court after missing the previous two games.Young walked out of Atlanta's locker-room wearing a hoodie, and he put on some jumpers including floaters to see if he felt confident enough to try it. McMillan stated that Young did not feel comfortable enough to try it.Atlanta hopes that Young will be ready for Game 6 after 48 hours of rest and recovery, but McMillan stated that he still believes Young will be a game-time choice.The Hawks know they must play harder defensively, so it doesn't matter what. They'll go home for the summer if they don't.Danilo Gallinari, Hawks forward, said that "they definitely got us into the paint." "If we want a win, we must definitely get better with this."This report was contributed by Malika Andrews, ESPN.
