Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 28-point second half rally falls short as Hawks lose to Bucks, 112-110

A late surge tightened a game Milwaukee controlled early

Nickeil Alexander-Walker produced one of the most explosive halves of his season Monday, scoring 28 points after intermission as the Atlanta Hawks nearly erased a large deficit before falling to the Milwaukee Bucks, 112-110. The loss came despite Atlanta’s strong finish, after Milwaukee built separation with efficient shooting and a steadier first half.

Alexander-Walker finished with 32 points, six rebounds and six assists, turning a quiet start into a fourth-quarter push that brought the Hawks within one possession multiple times. Atlanta trailed 54-38 at halftime, then won the second half 72-58 but ran out of time to complete the comeback.

Milwaukee’s shot-making and rebounding set the tone

Milwaukee leaned on a balanced attack and strong work on the glass to establish control. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 21 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, providing interior scoring and playmaking while Milwaukee’s perimeter shooting helped stretch Atlanta’s defense.

As a team, the Bucks shot 49.4% from the field and went 16-of-36 from three-point range. Atlanta, by contrast, shot 40.6% overall and 12-of-42 from beyond the arc, a gap that proved decisive in a two-point game.

Hawks’ comeback built on pace, pressure and hot shooting late

Atlanta’s second-half improvement was driven by quicker offense, more consistent shot creation, and the scoring burst from Alexander-Walker. Jalen Johnson added 28 points, 16 rebounds and six assists, giving the Hawks a second engine as they pushed the tempo and attacked the paint.

Atlanta also controlled the offensive glass, finishing with 14 offensive rebounds, which created extra possessions during the comeback. The Hawks recorded 33 assists on 39 made field goals, reflecting how ball movement improved as the game tightened.

• Final score: Bucks 112, Hawks 110
• Top Hawks scorers: Alexander-Walker 32, Johnson 28
• Top Bucks performer: Antetokounmpo 21 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists
• Key efficiency gap: Milwaukee 44.4% from three, Atlanta 28.6%

One-possession finish after repeated swings

The closing minutes featured momentum shifts fueled by Milwaukee’s timely perimeter makes and Atlanta’s late shot-making. The Hawks generated a final chance to extend the game but could not convert the last possession, sealing Milwaukee’s narrow win.

Atlanta won the second half by 14 points, but Milwaukee’s first-half cushion and three-point accuracy held up in the final seconds.

The result left Atlanta with a costly missed opportunity after a second-half rally, while Milwaukee secured a close win built on early control, spacing, and late execution.