The Milwaukee Bucks nearly let a 23-point lead slip away, but they held on down the stretch to edge the Hawks in Atlanta, 112-110, in a game that carried real weight in the Eastern Conference play-in race. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with a typically all-around performance-21 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists-but it was a full-team effort that helped Milwaukee weather Atlanta’s second-half surge.
Six Bucks finished in double figures, including Bobby Portis, who poured in 19 off the bench in one of his more impactful outings of the season. But beyond the usual suspects, it was a lesser-known name who quietly made one of the biggest impressions on the night: Pete Nance.
Pete Nance Steps Up in Surprise Rotation Role
Nance, the former North Carolina standout, has mostly been a bench fixture this season-logging minutes only in blowouts. But in Atlanta, Doc Rivers called his number early, and Nance made the most of it.
In just 15 minutes, Nance tallied five points on 2-of-3 shooting, added four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, and finished with a +13 in the box score-second only to AJ Green’s +14. Those aren’t eye-popping stats, but make no mistake: Nance’s presence changed the flow of the game.
His size and versatility gave the Bucks a different look in the frontcourt, especially compared to Jericho Sims, who has recently fallen out of the rotation. Sims, known more for his physicality and screen setting, has struggled to stay on the floor due to limited offensive range and a tendency to get whistled for illegal screens. Nance, on the other hand, brought a smoother offensive touch and more positional awareness-qualities that helped stabilize the Bucks when the game got tight.
It’s the kind of performance that could earn Nance more consistent minutes moving forward. With the Bucks still searching for the right mix in their second unit, his ability to contribute on both ends might just give Rivers another reliable option in the rotation.
Bucks Gain Ground in Tight Play-In Race
The win bumps Milwaukee to 18-24 on the season, inching them closer to the Hawks, who now sit at 20-25 after dropping their fourth straight. That puts Atlanta just a half-game ahead of the Bucks for the final play-in spot in the East-a reminder of how tight the margin is for teams jockeying for postseason position.
The Bucks are still five games behind the 76ers (23-18) for the sixth seed, which remains the last spot outside the play-in tournament. But with performances like the one they put together in Atlanta-gritty, balanced, and opportunistic-Milwaukee is showing signs of a team that’s far from folding on the season.
As for Nance, if this was his audition, he passed with flying colors.