Milwaukee Bucks win game 5 against Atlanta Hawks

The Milwaukee Bucks beat Atlanta Hawks 123-112 on Thursday night and took a 3-2 lead in the best of seven series.

It brings the Bucks one win away from reaching the NBA finals for the first time since 1974. They won their lone NBA title in 1971.

Both teams were missing their 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. But even if superstar guard Trae Young hadn’t sat out, the Atlanta Hawks wouldn’t have been able to stop the Bucks’ relentless assault on the rim Thursday night. If the Hawks can’t find a solution defending the paint, their season very well might be over whether Young returns or not.

Either way, the Hawks are going into a do-or-die game knowing they have no choice but to play harder defensively. Otherwise, they’ll be headed home for the summer.