ATLANTA -- The Milwaukee Bucks slowed down Atlanta and still ended up losing their eighth straight game to the Hawks.
Dominique Wilkins scored 28 points and Moses Malone 23 Thursday night to lead the Hawks to a 100-92 victory in the first game of their best-of-five, opening-round playoff series. Game 2 is Saturday night in Atlanta.
'We feel the next game is a new opportunity,' said Bucks guard Sidney Moncrief. 'We maintain a positive attitude, but it's frustrating because we played our type of game.'
The Hawks, who went 6-0 against Milwaukee in the regular season, found themselves in a battle Thursday night until the closing moments.
'The first game is always tough in any series,' said Wilkins, who averaged 26.7 points in five previous years of playoff action and 26.2 points this season. 'Sure, we had beaten them in the season, but the defense tonight was what kept us alive.'
The Bucks, paced by Jay Humphries and Terry Cummings, with 20 and 18 points respectively, stayed with the Hawks until the final four minutes. Wilkins, despite favoring an apparent knee bruise, scored 7 of the Hawks final 16 points.
Atlanta also received a late boost from guard Doc Rivers who scored 8 of his 15 points in the final period. His 3-pointer with 52 seconds left to play gave the Hawks a 7-point bulge.
The first three quarters were a standoff, with the Hawks leading by 49-48 at intermission after Malone made 1 of 2 free throws after being fouled at the buzzer. They were up 72-71 after three quarters.
'It was a war,' Rivers said. 'They slowed the game to their style. We got kind of lucky when they missed all those free throws. Late in the game, we showed a lot of aggressiveness.'
Malone, a battle-hardened veteran who joined the Hawks this season, had a game-high 13 rebounds to go with his 23 points. When he rested, Jon Koncak took up the slack with an 11-rebound, 13-point inside performance.
'You can not underestimate Kak's importance tonight,' Wilkins said. 'We had to keep our intensity up. The trap they showed tonight tells us we have to go back and do more preparation in order to execute.'
'Both teams played well tonight,' said Bucks Coach Del Harris. 'Both teams played with the intensity they need to win playoff games. We have always said it is not what happens to you, but how you respond. We will be ready Saturday.'
