MILWAUKEE (AP) — Playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks leaned on a balanced attack to take a 3-2 lead in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals.
Brook Lopez scored a playoff career-high 33 points as the Bucks dumped the Atlanta Hawks, 123-112. Lopez was among four Bucks to score over 20 points. Khris Middleton provided 26 points, Jrue Holiday had 25 and Bobby Portis added 22. Middleton also had 13 rebounds and eight assists, while Holiday had 13 assists and six boards.
Milwaukee led 36-22 after a first quarter in which the Bucks outscored the Hawks 28-8 in the paint.
Each team was missing its biggest star as Antetokounmpo dealt with a hyperextended left knee and Atlanta’s Trae Young sat out a second straight game due to a bone bruise in his right foot.
Bogdan Bogdanovic led the Hawks with 28 points. Atlanta also got 19 points each from John Collins and Danilo Gallinari, and 17 from Lou Williams.
The Bucks are one win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974.
Game 6 is Saturday in Atlanta.
