Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on July 1  2021

• • Bucks may be without Antetokounmpo

  • Hawks’ Trae Young, Clint Capela questionable

NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals — Game 5 (Series tied 2-2)

No. 5 Atlanta Hawks (41-31, 16-20 Away) vs. No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks (46-26, 26-10 Home)

Date: Thursday, July 1, 2021

Time: 8:30 p.m. EST

Venue: Fiserv Forum — Milwaukee, WI

Coverage: TNT

All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets are available | Injuries | Player Props

Moneyline: ATL: (+120) | MIL: (-142)

Spread: ATL: +2.5 (-108) | MIL: -2.5 (-112)

Total: 216 — Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

Odds to Win NBA Finals: ATL: (+550) | MIL: (+450)

Hawks vs Bucks Prediction & Pick

All NBA win probability predictions and picks are according to the ESPN Basketball Power Index (BPI).

Hawks: 27.1%

Bucks: 72.9%

Atlanta Hawks star guard Trae Young is listed as questionable for Thursday night’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the host Milwaukee Bucks due to his foot injury.

Center Clint Capela (right eye inflammation) is also questionable after being elbowed in the face by Milwaukee’s Sam Merrill late in the contest.

Young sat out Atlanta’s 110-88 victory in Game 4 that tied the series at two games apiece. He sustained a bone bruise in his right foot during Game 3 on Sunday night when he inadvertently stepped on an official’s foot.

Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (right knee soreness) is listed as probable. He made six 3-pointers and scored 20 points in Game 4.

The Bucks are also dealing with a key injury as star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is doubtful after hyperextending his left knee during the third quarter of Game 4.

Did Game 4 reveal more about the Bucks or Hawks? | First Take

Bucks may be without Antetokounmpo for pivotal Game 5 vs. Hawks
During a postseason defined by fallen superstars, the Atlanta Hawks showed they have what it takes to overcome the absence of a key piece to the puzzle.

The Hawks head into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at Milwaukee on Thursday after getting even 2-2 in the series while playing without team leader Trae Young. Standout sixth-man Lou Williams jumped into the starting lineup in Game 4 and recorded 21 points and eight assists as the Hawks topped the Bucks 110-88.

The Bucks will limp back home with Giannis Antetokounmpo listed as doubtful after Milwaukee’s all-everything performer hyperextended his left knee in the third quarter Tuesday. He did not return as the Hawks put the game away and his status for Game 5 remains in doubt.

An MRI exam on Wednesday showed no structural damage but the club hasn’t revealed a plan for the rest of the series.

Atlanta went from uneasy during pregame when Young was ruled out with a bone bruise in his right ankle, to joy when they pulled away before the fourth quarter after Antetokounmpo went down.

“Losing Trae was, of course, a big loss for us, but we’ve been in that position before,” Hawks head coach Nate McMillan said. “We needed to come out and play a good solid basketball game.

“The guys that are stepping into those roles and getting those opportunities, we just tell them to stay in their lane. We don’t need them to try to be that player that is out; play your game.”

It is advice the Bucks could use as well, especially with Antetokounmpo ailing. Milwaukee already has been without Donte DiVincenzo because of a tendon injury in his foot.

Antetokounmpo was injured after he landed awkwardly while trying to contest a Clint Capela dunk attempt.

On their heels after Antetokounmpo departed, the Bucks watched the Hawks go on a 25-8 scoring run until the end of the third quarter. Milwaukee’s 25-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter ended up being its largest of the game.
The Inside Crew Reacts to Giannis’ Knee Injury and the Hawks Tying Up the Series | NBA on TNT

Khris Middleton never got on track for Milwaukee, scoring 16 points and missing all seven of his 3-point attempts. Jrue Holiday scored 19 points with nine assists as Milwaukee shot just 39.3 percent from the field and 20.5 percent (8 of 39) from distance.

“Two games in a row we got off to a bad start,” Middleton said. “(In Game 3) we were able to pull it out and this game we were never able to get it going. They played hard. They hit shots. We just have got to do a better job of getting those 50/50 balls. That was a big part of the game in the first half. Play with more urgency. Get after it more.”

Regardless of whether the Hawks get Young back or not, they know they can play with the Bucks, even at Milwaukee. They won the opener of the series 116-113 on the road and a victory in Game 5 would put them one victory from the NBA Finals with Game 6 at home.

Williams said he is ready to operate in whatever role is necessary. But he won’t think about it too much. He wants to put his head down and just play basketball.

“Did I look ahead and say we can be a championship contender day one? Probably not,” Williams said about his mindset after he was traded from the Clippers in March. “But we’re two wins away like everybody else, and we feel good about it.”