Atlanta Hawks 112-123 Milwaukee Bucks: 5 hits and flops as Jrue Holiday and co. edge closer to the Finals | 2021 NBA Playoffs

Hit: Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks)

Bobby Portis #9 tries to save a loose ball against the Hawks

Where would the Milwaukee Bucks be against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5 without Bobby Portis?

If there was one player who needed to step up in Antetokounmpo’s absence, it was Portis who made his first career playoff start. He didn’t disappoint the Milwaukee Bucks faithful, who cheered his name throughout the game.

The former Chicago Bulls player notched 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. He provided the energy and hustle that was sorely lacking from the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4.

Portis was all over the court, both offensively and defensively, to give his team the lift it needed without its superstar.

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Flop: John Collins (Atlanta Hawks)

John Collins #20 drives against Brook Lopez #11

In a game without the Greek Freak, the Hawks' John Collins was supposed to benefit the most. Instead of coming out with energy from the start, Collins was uninspired and lacked the spark that the Atlanta Hawks needed from their big man.

Collins’ numbers don’t look bad on paper; he managed 19 points and eight rebounds. But he shot just 7-of-16 from the field. In a game where he was supposed to have the paint all to himself, he was outplayed by an aging veteran center who showed more hope than the Atlanta Hawks youngster.

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Hits: Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)

It’s hard to give just three “hits” to the winning team because the Milwaukee Bucks were incredibly impressive. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton in particular made up for their poor showing in Game 4 in a big way.

Jrue Holiday is the first player in Bucks history with multiple 25-point, 10-assist games in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/TPbJrS8RKc

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 2, 2021

Holiday brought a lot of fire from the first quarter onwards as he slashed, scored and dished his way to 25 points, 13 assists and six rebounds in Game 5. The former All-Star was finding seams in the Atlanta Hawks defense and they couldn’t keep him in front of them all night.

Khris Middleton FILLED the stat sheet (26 PTS, 13 REB, 8 AST, 2 STL) in the Bucks Game 5 win, securing the top spot on Thursday's stacked #NBAFantasy leaderboard! 📊 pic.twitter.com/qNPNjV9wVL

— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) July 2, 2021

Another Milwaukee Bucks All-Star, Khris Middleton, quietly went about his business but his game was loud. Middleton had a sensational all-round game against the Atlanta Hawks, putting up 26 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a block.

There was no mistaking the fact that he was the glue that held this team together. Middleton made it his goal to do anything and everything that the Bucks needed from him.