Unexpected Spark Lifts Bucks Past Hawks in Tense 112-110 MLK Day Win

The Milwaukee Bucks held on for a dramatic 112-110 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on MLK Day, surviving a furious second-half comeback to secure an important road win.

Milwaukee looked firmly in control midway through the third quarter, building a 23-point lead behind efficient offense and strong rebounding. But the Hawks flipped the momentum after halftime, steadily erasing the deficit and briefly taking the lead late in the fourth quarter to turn the game into a tense finish.

The Bucks narrowly escaped thanks to steady leadership and balanced production. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 21 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists, anchoring the team on both ends of the floor. Milwaukee also had five players score in double figures, with Bobby Portis providing a major boost off the bench by pouring in 19 points and injecting energy when the game tightened.

Beyond the usual contributors, however, one unexpected performance stood out.

Pete Nance Seizes His Chance 

Pete Nance’s early appearance was a surprise. Having spent most of the season playing only garbage-time minutes, Nance was inserted into the rotation in the first quarter by head coach Doc Rivers and he made the most of the opportunity.

In 15 minutes, the former North Carolina big man finished with five points on 2-of-3 shooting, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. His +13 plus-minus ranked second on the team, highlighting his positive impact while on the floor. Though the numbers were modest, Nance’s size, spacing, and defensive activity noticeably stabilized the Bucks’ lineup.

His performance stood in contrast to Jericho Sims, who has typically filled the backup big role but has fallen out of favor due to limited offense and frequent illegal screens. Replacing Sims with Nance proved to be a smart adjustment, and it would be surprising if Nance doesn’t retain that role going forward.

With the win, Milwaukee improves to 18-24, while Atlanta drops to 20-25 in its fourth straight loss. The Hawks now hold just a half-game edge over the Bucks for the final Eastern Conference play-in spot, making this narrow victory a potentially meaningful one as the season progresses.