ATLANTA (Interstat) — Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks held off a furious second-half rally by the Atlanta Hawks to secure a 112-110 road victory Monday afternoon at State Farm Arena. The Bucks built a 16-point halftime lead behind a 34-point second quarter. Atlanta responded after the break, outscoring Milwaukee 72-58 in the second half, including a 38-point fourth-quarter surge that fell just short. The Hawks’ late push was not enough to overcome the early deficit. The game drew 16,284 fans. Milwaukee improved to 18-24 with the win, while Atlanta fell to 20-25.

ATLANTA (Interstat) — Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 21 points and 17 rebounds anchored a resilient Milwaukee Bucks performance, and a critical late steal by Ryan Rollins sealed a 112-110 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday afternoon at State Farm Arena. The Bucks, who led by as many as 17 points in the first half, survived a furious second-half rally by the Hawks and a career-high 32 points from Atlanta guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for Milwaukee and improved its record to 18-24, while Atlanta fell to 20-25. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 40 seconds. With Milwaukee clinging to a 107-105 lead after a Bobby Portis three-pointer, Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson received the ball in the post. As Johnson turned to make a move, Rollins swiped the ball cleanly, triggering a fast break that ended with Antetokounmpo finishing a layup off a Portis assist to push the lead to four with 36.1 seconds left. Atlanta answered quickly, with Alexander-Walker draining a deep three-pointer off a Dyson Daniels assist to cut the deficit to 110-109 with 12.6 seconds remaining. The Hawks immediately fouled Rollins, who missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second to make it 111-109. On the ensuing possession, the Hawks designed a play for C.J. McCollum, whose fadeaway jumper from the left baseline missed with 3.7 seconds left. Antetokounmpo secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and made one of two free throws for the final margin. McCollum’s desperation heave at the buzzer was off target. The game was a tale of two halves dominated by contrasting styles. Milwaukee established control early through Antetokounmpo’s interior dominance and efficient perimeter shooting, building a 54-38 halftime lead. The Bucks scored 34 points in the second quarter, holding Atlanta to just 19 in the period. The Hawks stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring Milwaukee 34-26 behind a blistering offensive display. Alexander-Walker and Johnson, who finished with 28 points and 16 rebounds, spearheaded the charge. Atlanta’s run continued into the fourth, where they finally drew even and briefly took the lead, setting the stage for the tense final minutes. Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ top star, played 30 minutes and added six assists to his double-double. His performance provided a steadying force for a Milwaukee team that had lost eight of its last ten games. Portis contributed 19 points off the bench, while AJ Green added 18 points, including several key three-pointers. For Atlanta, the loss wasted spectacular individual efforts. Alongside Alexander-Walker and Johnson, Daniels compiled a stat line of 17 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, narrowly missing a triple-double. McCollum scored 17 points but committed four turnovers. The Hawks struggled mightily from the floor in the first half, shooting under 35 percent, which dug the hole they spent the rest of the game trying to escape. Their second-half surge, where they shot over 50 percent and scored 72 points, ultimately fell short due to the late defensive stands by Milwaukee. A crowd of 16,284 at State Farm Arena saw the Bucks win despite being pregame underdogs. Atlanta had been installed as a 1.5-point favorite by oddsmakers, and statistical models gave the Hawks a 66.5 percent probability of victory. The total score of 222 points fell under the projected over/under line of 231. Milwaukee next hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Atlanta travels to face the Memphis Grizzlies, also on Wednesday.

Preview: Bucks at Hawks, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 ATLANTA (Interstat) — Two Eastern Conference teams seeking to stabilize inconsistent seasons will meet Monday when the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. The Bucks (17-24) arrive having lost three straight and five of their last six, including a 119-101 defeat at San Antonio on Thursday. Despite the team’s struggles, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo remains a dominant force. He is averaging 28.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists over his last 10 games, including a 37-point, 11-rebound performance in a win over Sacramento on Jan. 4. His efficiency and playmaking will be central to any Milwaukee turnaround. The Hawks (20-23) have also been uneven, alternating wins and losses over their past eight games. They are coming off a 117-101 road loss to Portland on Thursday. Atlanta’s recent surge has been fueled by forward Onyeka Okongwu, who is averaging 18.4 points and 10.6 rebounds over his last 10 contests. He posted 26 points and nine rebounds in the loss to the Trail Blazers and recorded a 31-point, 14-rebound effort against New York on Dec. 27. While both teams sit outside the current playoff picture, the matchup offers a chance to gain ground. The Hawks won the season’s first meeting, though that game was played in October 2025. Atlanta holds a slim three-game lead over Milwaukee in the overall standings. Defensive consistency will be a key concern. The Bucks have allowed an average of 119.2 points during their three-game skid, while the Hawks have given up 117 points or more in four of their last five outings. The battle in the paint between Antetokounmpo and Okongwu could dictate the tempo. Following this game, Milwaukee begins a three-game homestand against Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Atlanta opens a brief road trip at Memphis on Wednesday.