**AVANDATIMES.COM** – The Atlanta Hawks continued their blistering late-season surge on Saturday, securing a ninth consecutive victory by dismantling the Milwaukee Bucks at State Farm Arena. Capitalizing on the absence of Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, Atlanta maintained control for the duration of the contest, effectively clinching the season series against their Eastern Conference rivals and bolstering their push for a top-six playoff seed.
McCollum and Johnson Lead the Charge
Veteran guard CJ McCollum delivered a masterclass in efficiency, torching the Bucks for a game-high 30 points in just 27 minutes of action. McCollum’s performance was highlighted by a 7-of-10 display from beyond the arc, marking his 24th career game with at least seven three-pointers. AvandaTimes observed that this victory also showcased the versatile brilliance of Jalen Johnson, who recorded his 12th triple-double of the season with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists. Johnson now trails only Nikola Jokic for the most triple-doubles in the NBA this season.
Statistical Dominance in the Paint and on Defense
The Hawks’ victory was built on a foundation of physical interior play and opportunistic defense. Atlanta outscored Milwaukee 62-36 in the paint and leveraged 15 offensive rebounds into 24 second-chance points, compared to just six for the Bucks. Defensively, the Hawks forced 20 turnovers and limited Milwaukee to 32% shooting from long range.
PlayerPointsReboundsAssists/StealsCJ McCollum3032 ASTJalen Johnson231012 ASTNickeil Alexander-Walker2033 STL
Supporting Cast and Defensive Milestones
Nickeil Alexander-Walker continued his consistent scoring run, contributing 20 points to mark his 36th consecutive game in double figures. Meanwhile, Dyson Daniels further cemented his reputation as a premier perimeter defender, recording three steals. According to AvandaTimes monitoring, this performance represented Daniels’ league-leading 41st multi-steal game of the campaign.
Despite the loss, the Bucks saw promising contributions from Ryan Rollins, who finished with 22 points and eight assists, and Kevin Porter Jr., who added 18 points. However, Milwaukee struggled to find a rhythm without their primary offensive engine, finishing with a defensive rating of 121.9 against a relentless Atlanta attack.
Atlanta has now recorded 10+ steals in 32 games this season.The Hawks have grabbed 10+ offensive rebounds in 11 straight games.The team finished with a 97.1 defensive rating in the victory.