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The Milwaukee Bucks secured an NBA Finals ticket for the first time since 1974 after registering a 118-107 Game 6 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Nate McMillan slotted Trae Young into the starting lineup even though he hasn't fully recovered from his ankle sprain. However, the 22-year-old was very passive as he failed to impact the game for the Hawks.
The Milwaukee Bucks were careless in possession in the first half despite being the better team. Their two key players, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, each had five turnovers.
Cam Reddish did all he could to rally the Atlanta Hawks to a comeback, going 6 of 7 from the three-point range in the second half. However, the Milwaukee Bucks continued to drop three-point bombs.
The Atlanta Hawks deserve the highest praise for how far they have come in the 2021 NBA playoffs. Injuries played a crucial role in the outcome of this series, leaving everyone thinking about what could have been if both teams were fully healthy.
Here are five reasons why the Milwaukee Bucks won Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
#1 The Milwaukee Bucks heated up in the third quarter
It was a close game in the first half as the Atlanta Hawks were behind by only 4 points. However, the Milwaukee Bucks came out of the locker room with renewed urgency.
Middleton led the charge for the Bucks, scoring 23 of the team's 44 points with a 16-0 run to start the third quarter.
Holiday followed suit with 11 points to give the Milwaukee Bucks an 18-point lead against the Atlanta Hawks with 12 minutes remaining in the game.
Although their intensity dropped in the fourth quarter, the Milwaukee Bucks managed to comfortably close out the game.
Middleton finished the game with 32 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while Holiday registered 27 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds.
#2 The Atlanta Hawks were late to find their offensive rhythm against the sturdy Milwaukee Bucks defense
The Atlanta Hawks struggled from the field as the shots simply didn't fall for them. The Milwaukee Bucks had a bright start from the tip-off, but the Hawks were slow to respond.
Although the Milwaukee Bucks' defense wasn't as dominant as it was in Game 5, it did the job against an Atlanta Hawks side that approached the game with little urgency.
Things got going for the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter due to the heroics of Reddish. However, the Hawks already dug themselves a pit that was too deep to climb out of.
#3 Improved three-point shooting
The Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks have not particularly shot the ball well from three-point range. However, the Bucks successfully bettered their opponent in Game 6 to close out the series.
Holiday made four three-pointers out of 12 attempts, while Middleton went 4 of 10. While they were not considered top-of-the-line shooting, it was enough to seal the win against the Hawks.
PJ Tucker struggled from the corner, despite it being his favorite position. He went 1 of 7 in the game, with his only make coming in the clutch, which was the perfect way to seal the win for the Milwaukee Bucks.
#4 Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young failed to produce
Trae Young hurried back to the Atlanta Hawks starting lineup because the series was on the line. However, the youngster was not 100% fit to play.
The Atlanta Hawks' official injury report listed the guard as questionable. He was included in the starting lineup as the coaching staff believed that he was needed if the team wants to force a Game 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
It was all about game management for Young as he treaded carefully to not aggravate his situation. That hampered his ability to drive to the hoop and give the Milwaukee Bucks' defense something to worry about.
Although his assist count was impressive, he struggled from the field, shooting 4 of 17. He attempted six three-pointers and could not convert any of them.
No one can dispute Young's ability, but his time on the court was not as productive as many would have hoped in such a decisive game.
His tally for the night stands at 15 points, nine assists and four rebounds. He also had the most turnovers for the Atlanta Hawks, with five.
#5 The Milwaukee Bucks cashed in on their free-throw opportunities
The Milwaukee Bucks were near perfect from the charity stripe, and this played a significant role in the victory. The Atlanta Hawks managed to curtail the Bucks' scoring in the paint but fouled a lot in the process.
It was near-perfect for the Milwaukee Bucks from the free-throw line. Of the five Bucks players that were sent to the line, only Holiday missed as he failed to convert 2 of 3 shots.
The Milwaukee Bucks shot 90.5% from the line, the highest so far in this series. Bobby Portis did an exceptional job filling in for Giannis Antetokounmpo and shot 6 of 6 from the line.
