Hawks 111, Bucks 98: Dunleavy fits in quickly for Atlanta
Atlanta – Mike Dunleavy looks like a perfect fit for the Atlanta Hawks.
Just ask the Milwaukee Bucks, who struggle against the Hawks no matter if it's Kyle Korver or Dunleavy in the lineup. The sharpshooting Korver joined Cleveland last week to provide some support for LeBron James, but Dunleavy was on target in the Hawks' 111-98 victory over the Bucks at Philips Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Playing in just his second game with the Hawks after arriving in the Korver trade, Dunleavy scored 20 points off the bench and hit 4 of 5 three-pointers. Kent Bazemore had a team-high 24 points and drilled 4 of 7 threes as the Hawks went 13 of 26 beyond the arc.
"We cannot let Dunleavy come off the bench and have 20," said Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. "We did that. We didn't defend the three-point line real well. We've got to do a better job rebounding the ball, especially in the second half."
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks (20-19) with 33 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals, but Milwaukee dropped its third game in as many meetings with Atlanta (23-17) this season. Bucks forward Jabari Parker barely missed a triple-double with eight points, a career-high nine assists and 10 rebounds.
BOX SCORE: Hawks 111, Bucks 98
Bucks coach Jason Kidd said before the game that defending the three-pointer would be critical, but the Bucks couldn't do it.
"Coach Kidd has been around this league quite some time, and he's not only a fortune-teller, he just knows," veteran guard Jason Terry said. "At some point, we're going to have to understand that what he's telling us is going to come to fruition.
"Are we going to be ready to execute the game plan? We did not do that tonight as read the results."
The Bucks know all about Dunleavy, who played two seasons in Milwaukee (2011-'13) and shot 41.6% from three-point range while with the franchise. He moved on to Chicago for three seasons and signed as a free agent with Cleveland during the past off-season before being traded to Atlanta.
“It’s an easy group of guys and an easy way to play to fit in with," Dunleavy said. "Obviously, I’ve been playing against this team for a number of years. I understand what they try to do offensively. It’s been pretty seamless thus far. Defensively, still trying to figure some things out and get more comfortable. Overall, I feel pretty good for two games.”
The Bucks had cut their deficit to six points in the fourth quarter, but Dunleavy and Malcolm Delaney sank back-to-back threes sandwiched around a basket by Milwaukee's Greg Monroe, pushing Atlanta's margin to 101-91 with 6:37 left. Delaney's three was wide open when Dunleavy passed up a shot and found him in the corner.
"It's two games," said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer of the 36-year-old Dunleavy. "We have to be careful not to put too much into it.But I would say it's always been a belief that this would be a good place for him and a good way to play – moving and cutting."
Dwight Howard had 16 points and 14 rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds to give the Hawks second chances. They scored 20 second-chance points.
"He can change shots; he can block shots," Kidd said of Howard. "We've got to do a better job of engaging him and then being a playmaker. Or if we do miss the shot, we've got to be able to clean up and have the tip-ins go in for us."
The Bucks have a quick turnaround and will play a second straight matinee game on Monday, hosting Philadelphia (2:30 p.m. Central) as part of the league's Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.
"I don't think it will be a problem," Antetokounmpo said. "Tomorrow is a must-win game against Philly. We need that game. We've got to get back. The guys will get some rest. We'll meet at the arena, go through the scouting report and get ready for the game."
THREE TAKEAWAYS
1. Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova was booed every time he touched the ball by the Philips Arena crowd. Hawks fans have not forgotten that Kyle Korver broke his ankle in the Eastern Conference finals two years ago on a play involving Dellavedova, then playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dellavedova finished with just three points and three assists in 24 minutes, but he said the constant booing didn't bother him. "They've got good fans here who support their team," Dellavedova said. "I know they don't like me in a couple places. ... Chicago, a little bit. I just don't focus on it. I'm just trying to help the team win."
2. Center Miles Plumlee got an early chance off the Bucks bench, and so did guard Rashad Vaughn. Plumlee was ineffective in 6 minutes while grabbing one rebound. Vaughn had five points on 2-of-4 shooting in 6 minutes.
3. Jabari Paker just missed a triple-double but said he knew he wasn't scoring well early. He finished with eight points on 4-of-9 shooting and did not get to the foul line, meaning Atlanta bottled up his driving lanes and had Dwight Howard as a rim protector. He added a career-high nine assists and 10 rebounds. "I was just trying something new," Parker said. "I didn't see myself doing real well in the beginning. I wasn't effective as far as scoring but I tried to do other things out there. That (the triple-double) is the least of my worries."
UP NEXT
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (12-26) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (20-19).
When: 2:30 p.m. Monday.
Where: BMO Harris Bradley Center.
About the 76ers: Rookie Joel Embiid sat out Philadelphia’s 109-93 loss to Washington on Saturday at the Verizon Center as the 76ers maintained their policy of resting him on the second night of back-to-back games. But he is expected to play Monday. Jahlil Okafor was given a rare start at center and responded with 26 points, nine rebounds and one block. 76ers coach Brett Brown said after the game he wasn’t sure if Okafor or Nerlens Noel would be the primary backup for Embiid in the future. Former Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova has been a consistent scorer for the 76ers since arriving in a trade with Oklahoma City. Ilyasova has scored in double figures in 19 straight games, including an 18-point effort against the Wizards.