NBA: Milwaukee falls to Atlanta for the first time this season

No 10 pass for the Bucks. Milwaukee fell heavily for the first time of the season Monday night on the floor of the Atlanta Hawks (117-98), struck down in particular by the Hawks bench and the 24 points scored by rookie AJ ​​Griffin.

Last undefeated team this season in the NBA after winning their first nine games, Milwaukee, who found their star Giannis Antetokounmpo, wanted to improve the best start to the championship in their history. The bench of the Hawks, however deprived of their star leader Trae Young, stopped net the ambitions of the Bucks. While Atlanta starting guard Dejounte Murray finished as his team’s top scorer with 25 points, it was the substitutes who finished off the Bucks, with Justin Holiday making four three-pointers and 14 points, Onyeka Okongwu adding 12, and especially rookie AJ ​​Griffin, with 24 points off the bench.

«Before the match started, the coach said “Believe in yourself)”. I felt the whole team wanted moresaid Griffin, 19. “It was a great victory. We knew the game plan – we just had to contribute and make sure we supported each other“. And Atlanta put the words into action, after trailing 36-25 in the first quarter, scoring 37 points in the third, winning the fourth 28-18 and taking its win streak this season to seven and three losses. .

Back after a slight knee injury, Antetokounmpo, despite scoring 25 points, did not have his usual performance and the absence of Khris Middleton, who had been out for several weeks, was sorely felt for the first time this season. . Hawks and Bucks will meet again next week for their third meeting this season.

Curry lights the fire

In Monday’s other matches, Golden State ended a five-game losing streak by winning against Sacramento (116-113), thanks to a fourth quarter dominated by Stephen Curry.

The Warriors star point guard scored 17 of his 47 points in this last quarter alone, completing a royal stat sheet with 8 rebounds and 8 assists. “We can always show that kind of courage and fighting spirit to win a game like this“, estimated Curry whose team ran after the score throughout the game. “We know how to do it. I just needed to light the fire a little».

In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid made 16 of 16 free throws and scored 33 points to allow the Sixers to dominate the Phoenix Suns (100-88). “If they keep fouls me, I gotta make my free throwsSatisfied Embiid, who signed his return after being ill and missing the last three meetings of his team.

The Cameroonian, who also has French and American nationalities, felt he was ready to assume leadership in the absence of James Harden, still injured and out of the upcoming games against Atlanta and Milwaukee. “We will miss himsaid Embiid. “(In his absence), I have to dominate offensively and defensively like tonight».

Another brilliant All star, Luka Doncic scored 36 points with Dallas to overcome Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets (96-94). This is the ninth consecutive game in which the Slovenian scored more than 30 points. Two away wins at last. That of the Boston Celtics in Memphis (109-106), thanks in particular to 39 points from Jayson Tatum.

And that of Portland against the Miami Heat (110-107) thanks to a three-point shot at the buzzer from Josh Hart.