PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland’s Anfernee Simons played through his grief over his grandfather’s death with a career night that tempered an NBA season-best 56-point outburst by Atlanta’s Trae Young.
Simons scored a career-high 43 points and the Trail Blazers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 136-131 victory over the Hawks on Monday night.
“I came in with a heavy heart, but obviously a clear mind for what I needed to do,” Simons said. His grandfather, who had . . .
ATLANTA (AP) — Nate McMillan earned his deal as full-time coach of the Atlanta Hawks by leading the team to its first playoff appearance since 2017.
The playoff run took the Hawks all the way to the Eastern Conference finals, and McMillan says he believes more success awaits the young team.
“I am truly blessed to be able to lead this special group into the future,” McMillan said in a statement released by the team on Thursday, when his deal as full-time coach was made official.
“I believe what we accomplished this season is just the beginning of what we can achieve if we stay connected and committed to . . .
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks will have top scorer Trae Young in uniform for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night, when Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo will sit out again.
Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP, will miss his second straight game in the series, which the Bucks were leading 3-2.
Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee in Game 4 after landing awkwardly trying to contest a dunk by Clint Capela.
Bobby Portis was expected to get his second straight playoff start after scoring 22 points and grabbing eight . . .
ATLANTA (AP) — It has become a familiar holding pattern in the Eastern Conference final. The wait to see who’s going to play. Nothing has changed with the series headed back to Atlanta for a potentially clinching Game 6 Saturday night between the Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee is up 3-2 and can lock up its first trip to the NBA Finals since 1974. The Hawks, who haven’t made it to the final round since their days in St. Louis, are hoping to force the series back to Wisconsin for a decisive Game 7 on Monday night.
The Phoenix Suns have already locked up the Western Conference crown and are awaiting the Milwaukee . . .
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Even without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks figured out a way to end their recent habit of slow starts.
Now they’re just one win away from finishing off the Atlanta Hawks and earning their first NBA Finals berth in nearly half a century.
Brook Lopez scored a playoff career-high 33 points to lead a balanced attack and the Bucks never trailed in a 123-112 victory over the . . .
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young will join Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo in sitting out Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night due to injuries.
Young, who had been listed as questionable with a bone bruise in his right foot, will miss a second straight game.
“He’s feeling a little better, but not good enough to put on the uniform tonight,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said.
Young did note that center Clint Capela would be available to play Thursday. Capela, who has inflammation in his . . .
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