NBA games start early on Monday, with the Hawks and Bucks tipping off at 1 p.m. ET. These Eastern Conference foes are the 10th and 11th seeds, respectively. They look much different than the two squads that faced off in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.
Trae Young is no longer a member of the Hawks as he requested a trade to the Wizards. Giannis Antetokounmpo is surrounded by trade rumors, too, but he remains with the Bucks for now.
Atlanta enters this matchup as a 2.5-point favorite and -135 on the moneyline, while Milwaukee is +114 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 230.5 points.
Here’s a preview, prediction and pick for Monday’s Bucks vs. Hawks matchup.
Bucks vs. Hawks prediction, preview
The Bucks are falling apart despite some terrific play from Antetokounmpo. The franchise traded Khris Middleton last season and released Damian Lillard following his Achilles injury in the playoffs. The replacements haven’t matched their predecessors’ production, paving way for a miserable 2025-26 season. To make matters worse, trade rumors continue to surround Antetokounmpo and the organization.
Milwaukee has lost its last three games and four of its last five. On the bright side, these losses were all against Western Conference playoff teams. That leaves some hope as the Hawks are 20-24 in the East—a much weaker conference.
Jalen Johnson leads Atlanta in his fifth NBA season. He’s likely on his way to his first All-Star game, and gave the Hawks enough confidence to build around him and trade Young to Washington.
The problem entering this matchup is that the Hawks have multiple key players on the injury report. Zaccharie Risacher and Kristaps Porzingis are out, while Dyson Daniels is questionable. Meanwhile, the Bucks’ key players are healthy.
The Hawks are at home, which could even the scale, but the team is better on the road this year. They’re 7-12 at home and 13-12 on the road. Milwaukee, however, is 8-14 on the road and 9-10 at home.
Bucks vs. Hawks pick, best bet
While the Bucks’ struggles are more apparent, the Hawks are four games under .500 and on a three-game losing streak.
Atlanta plays at a fast pace with average defense, which is looking worse in recent performances. During this three-game stretch, the Hawks allowed 141, 117 and 132 points to the Lakers, Trail Blazers and Celtics, respectively. Johnson struggled in all three games despite playing at least 30 minutes in each.
Between injuries, Johnson’s struggles, and underwhelming defense, the Hawks seem bound for another loss. The Bucks will end this stretch of road games (six in their last seven) with a victory.