Three days after a thrilling one-point victory over Philadelphia in what the players called a playoff-like atmosphere, the Milwaukee Bucks came out flat against the Atlanta Hawks in a 127-110 loss Sunday at Fiserv Forum.

Atlanta (1-2) built a 15-point lead in the first quarter and though the Bucks cut that to 33-32 early in the second quarter on a Malik Beasley three-pointer, the Hawks quickly slipped away thanks to a 15-1 run.

“It’ll be good to go back and look (at the film) for sure,” Bucks center Brook Lopez said of that key stretch. “I can’t really think of each one – there was a lot (of easy baskets). There was a bit of a barrage. So, there is definitely a lot of stuff to look at.”

The Bucks (1-1) never were able to claw back into the game from there, as the Hawks led by as many as 30 when Giannis Antetokounmpo was pulled in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks turned the ball over 23 times, and the Hawks had 25 fast break points.

Antetokounmpo finished with a team-high 26 points on 9 of 14 shooting. He also had 11 rebounds.

“Obviously we wasn’t taking care of the ball like we want to,” Antetokounmpo said. “Offensively the ball wasn’t moving as much. We didn’t have a lot of space to operate. Sometimes if you don’t have the space to operate, you turn the ball over. We wasn’t efficient with what we were trying to accomplish from every offensive possession that we had and they took advantage of it.”

Beasley had 18 points on 6 of 12 shooting, including 4-for-10 from behind the three-point line. Brook Lopez (13) and Bobby Portis (12) joined them in double figures for the regulars.

'Dame Time' set back

After a storybook debut with the Bucks last Thursday where Damian Lillard set a franchise record for a debut with 39 points, the all-NBA point guard had a rare rough night from start to finish Sunday. He finished with six points on 2 of 12 shooting, including a 2-for-8 mark from behind the three-point line.

It was just the 16th time in his career he scored fewer than 10 points.

“Obviously I didn’t shoot the ball well,” Lillard began. “I think it was just a tough game. They were the more aggressive team. They played more physical than we did. Just early season bad game. We didn’t play well at either end of the floor and you got to give them credit for the way they came out.

"They were physical, they were disruptive. I think our offense kind of hurt our defense. They were able to get out (running) while we were off balance from turnovers and us not executing and getting good shots. They started feeling good.

"Anytime you let a team come in and feel good, especially a desperate team coming in without a win, you let ‘em feel good and they see some shots go on, we not playing a good game, it can get that way. Especially early in the season when you’re trying to figure things out, you’re trying to find an identity.

“And I gotta be better when that’s happening. I can’t be the guy turning the ball over. But like I said, it’s a long season, you don’t want to have these types of games but they happen and now we just gotta learn from ‘em. We got another one (Monday vs. Miami).”

Lillard was sitting on a career-low three points as the Bucks trailed by 26 in the fourth quarter and knocked down his second three-pointer at the 7:17 mark.

He had nearly as many turnovers (six) as missed shots (seven) in the first half and, unfortunately, had as many points as his jersey number (0).

“I think I had my mind made up in some situations because I knew what type of coverage they were in,” Lillard said of his early turnovers. “I was trying to get it out quick to the next guy. Sometimes they weren’t open. Or, what I was expecting them to do based on the positioning of their guy and my guy, I thought the ball would get there but it didn’t. I was a step ahead of myself at times.”

By limiting Lillard, the Hawks were able to take early control of the game and led by as many as 15 in the first quarter and took a 21-point lead into halftime.

Things didn’t get much better for the Bucks point guard in the second half, as he made his first basket with 3 minutes, 33 seconds to go in the third quarter. At that point, he was 1-for-10 from the floor and 1-for-6 from behind the three-point line.

Lillard’s career low for a game was four points, which last happened on Nov. 5, 2021. That was also the last time he didn’t reach double figures in a game.

“I know how good he is and at the end of the day, we need him to keep shooting, we need him to keep on being great,” Antetokounmpo said of Lillard. “We have him. Obviously we didn’t win the game but he’s our guy now and at the end of the day we want him to be extra aggressive.

"Every single night they’re going to double team him and he’s going to have to make the right play. He has a lot of things on his plate because he has to basically worry about he’s going to operate and how he’s gonna put us in the right position. Like, it’s a lot. But at the end of the day, we got him.”

DeJounte Murray leads Hawks to win

The Bucks paid a lot of attention to Trae Young, but it was the Hawks’ other all-star guard that caused them the most problems. Murray, who led the NBA in steals in 2021-22, picked Damian Lillard’s pocket once and got Giannis Antetokounmpo spinning into the lane another time to help lead a Hawks defensive effort in the first half that saw the Bucks turn it over nine times.

Murray on the other hand was 5-for-8 and scored 13 points. He also scored six points in a two-minute stretch in the second quarter that helped stifle the home crowd as Antetokounmpo tried to rally his team down the stretch.

“He had a great game,” Beasley said. “He was aggressive, making the right plays. That’s what he’s known for, though. I think he had a couple steals too. He’s long, so you gotta make sure you make the right plays and play smart.”

Murray led an overall balanced effort by the Hawks, who were searching for their first win of the season.

Seven of the eight regular rotation players all had reached double figures in scoring in the third quarter, ranging from 10-15 points. As a group, they shot over 50% from the field and 40% from three in maintaining a 20-point margin heading into the fourth.

Murray finished with 15 points and five assists while Young led the team with 20 points and 11 assists.

A.J. Griffin gets another one on his dad

Sunday night wasn’t the first time Adrian Griffin sat on an opposing bench than his son A.J. – and it wasn’t the first time A.J.’s team won the game – but it was a bit different.

A.J. is in his second year out of Duke, and the Hawks went 2-1 in their season series against his father’s Toronto Raptors last season. In fact, on Nov. 19, 2022, A.J. had a buzzer-beating layup to beat the Raptors – and that success has been a point of contention through the summer.

“He talks a lot of trash,” Adrian said before the game with a laugh. “They beat us (in Toronto) 2-1 so he has the upper hand and he reminds me every day almost. I told him I have some help, a little bit more help this year, so we’ll see.”

Indeed. Adrian is in his first year as a head coach, and in just his second game. And that adds a bit of a special element for the contest.

“He just said good luck today,” A.J. said of their short call before the game. “(Saturday) we met up, we were talking, got dinner. It feels a little different this time because he’s actually coaching. I feel like it makes the moment even more special.”

Adrian agreed.

“It’s special,” he said. “I’m just like any other parent, just proud of their kids and especially reaching this milestone is very hard. I know that from personal experience. But at the same time we have a job to do, we want to win the game. But it is special to see him in an NBA jersey. I’m still in awe. It’s still kind of new and fresh. But these are special moments that will last for a lifetime. Extremely grateful and just proud, just like every parent, just proud of your kids.”

5 numbers

12.5% Three-point percentage for the Bucks early in the third quarter (3-for-24) as the Hawks built a 24-point margin. The Bucks improved on that slightly as the game wore on, but that low point created just too deep a hole to climb out of.

2:42 Length of Flavor Flav’s national anthem.

3-4 Fouls in minutes played for MarJon Beauchamp in the first quarter after being given the assignment to defend Hawks guard Trae Young after subbing in. But Young made just one shot in the quarter against Beauchamp and starter Malik Beasley. Young was 3-for-3 from the free throw line for five points.

11/3/21 The last time Lillard was held scoreless in a half, per ESPN radio. Sunday marked just the 11^th time in his career that happened.

23 Point lead the Hawks built in the first half.

Jae Crowder starts for Khris Middleton

Adrian Griffin announced on Saturday that Middleton would be held out of Sunday night’s game for right knee conditioning, but the all-star would be expected to play Monday vs. Miami.

Crowder, who started two preseason games that Middleton did not play, drew the nod for the Bucks. He played 26 minutes and was 1-for-4 from the floor for two points. He also had three assists and three rebounds.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Damian Lillard has a rough night with 6 points as Hawks dominate Bucks