NBA Playoffs: The Bucks steal the win and the series lead over the Hawks with a late comeback in Game 3

Atlanta, Georgia - The Atlanta Hawks almost had the game and the series lead, but allowed the Milwaukee Bucks to mount a late-game comeback in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Bucks Forward Khris Middleton scored a playoff career-high 38 points in Milwaukee's game 3 win on Sunday night
Bucks Forward Khris Middleton scored a playoff career-high 38 points in Milwaukee's game 3 win on Sunday night  © IMAGO / Icon SMI

The Bucks got their 113-102 win on the road against the Hawks on Sunday night and took a 2-1 series lead. Atlanta’s home-court advantage went right out the window, along with the lead they were holding until the Bucks banded together to steal the win.

Khris Middleton (29) and Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee’s charge, despite being behind the Hawks during most of the game. Middleton was the main man behind the Bucks’ fourth-quarter comeback scoring 20 of his career-high 38 points in that period . Giannis helped out by putting up 33 points, despite another rough outing at the free-throw line, shooting 6-for-13.

The Hawks seemed poised to bounce back from a disappointing loss in Game 2, and they were in control for most part, up until that fourth quarter they’d like to forget. Even though the Bucks were often behind in the score, they stayed in the game by playing hard in the paint for a 22-point advantage near the basket. They also crashed the boards for 50 total rebounds, to Atlanta’s 35.

NBA's Joel Embiid to undergo left knee procedure
NBA NBA's Joel Embiid to undergo left knee procedure

Despite the loss, Trae Young had a great game for the Hawks, scoring 35 points, but had to exit temporarily with an ankle injury sustained in the third quarter, which was definitely a big factor the final result.

The Hawks still have room to breathe in this series

Even though the Hawks now find themselves behind, they’re still at home in Game 4, which they've in every series during this postseason. Most notably for Atlanta, the Eastern Conference Finals are going practically the same way the semifinals went for them: they won the opener, lost the next two games, and won the fourth to eventually take the series in seven games.

The Hawks will try and repeat a little history in game four against the Bucks, on Tuesday night back in Atlanta.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

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