Well, things didn’t go as well for Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks in game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals as they did in game one. The Milwaukee Bucks came out on fire on both ends of the floor, forcing Young into one of his worst performances of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
On the night, Young shot just 37.5% from the field and had nine turnovers. His 16 points and his three assists were the fewest he’s totaled in his 14 playoff games. The nine turnovers that Milwaukee forced him into were the most he’s had in a game all season. His previous high mark for turnovers was eight back in March.
Young wasn’t the only Atlanta player with turnovers, as the team combined for 19 on the game. It was an uncharacteristic game as they came into the playoffs averaging 13.8 turnovers per game, which was 23rd in the NBA in the 2020-2021 season. They were 20th in turnovers per 100 possessions.
It was a disappointing performance for Trae Young and the Hawks. With an opportunity to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, they were pretty much out of it by halftime.
"It's all on me. I gotta be better at taking care of the ball and just doing a better job of at least getting us a shot."
– Trae Young (following Game 2 loss) pic.twitter.com/0cW6Vct0CI
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) June 26, 2021
After a first quarter that saw the Bucks with just a six-point lead, Milwaukee stormed ahead with a huge second quarter, outscoring the Hawks by 26 in the frame to take a 32 point lead into halftime.
Giannis Antetokounmpo played a great game, scoring 25 points on 11-18 shooting, and the Bucks got 22 points from Jrue Holliday. Brook Lopez provided 16, and Khris Middleton added 15 points in the starting lineup.
Trae Young and the Hawks will now head back to Atlanta with the series tied 1-1. At home this season, the Hawks were 25-11. The Bucks were 20-16 on the road. To retake control of the series, the Hawks must find a way to bounce back on their home court.