ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks are following a familiar playoff script in their Eastern Conference finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks won their opener at Milwaukee before losing Game 2. They followed the same path in winning their first two playoff series against the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. Game 3 is Sunday night in Atlanta.
The staggering 125-91 Game 2 loss was a reminder that the Hawks are starting three players _ Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter _ who are in their first postseason. They will need to regroup against a Milwaukee team playing in its second conference finals appearance in three years and that was widely expected to contend for a title this season.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers will try to pull even in the Western Conference finals when they host the Phoenix Suns Saturday night in Game 4.
The Clippers cut their series deficit to 2-1 Thursday with a 106-92 win that ended the Suns’ franchise-record playoff winning streak at nine games.
Los Angeles will again be without Kawhi (kuh-WY’) Leonard, who hasn’t played since Game 4 of the second round against Utah because of a right knee sprain. Phoenix is hoping backup guard Cameron Payne can play after he went down with an ankle injury in Game 3.