Hawks come up short late in loss to Bucks

Atlanta Hawks' Dennis Schroder is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks' Tony Snell during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 24, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Credit: Morry Gash

Credit: Morry Gash

Atlanta Hawks' Dennis Schroder is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks' Tony Snell during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 24, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Hawks are learning how to play without Paul Millsap.

They just aren’t winning without their best player.

The Hawks dropped a 100-97 decision to the Bucks Friday night at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

The Hawks (37-35) have lost six straight games, four without Millsap. They are 0-7 on the season without their All-Star.

Schroder led the Hawks with 28 points. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 25 points and Dwight Howard had 20 points and 12 rebounds.

The Bucks (37-35) have won two straight and 11 of the past 13 games to catch the Hawks for fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks hold the tiebreaker with a 3-1 head-to-head record.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with a game-high 34 points.

Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks a 94-92 lead with 1:24 remaining with a drive to the basket. Hardaway hit a pair of free throws with 1:14 left to tie the score. Greg Monroe scored with 40 seconds left on a possession kept alive by an offensive rebound. Dennis Schroder answered with a layup and Monroe scored in close to give the Bucks a 98-96 lead. Dwight Howard missed one of two free throws with 10.3 seconds left. Khris Middleton hit a pair of free throws with 9.6 seconds left for a 100-97 Bucks lead. Ersan Ilyasova missed a 3-pointer with under a second remaining. Antetokounmpo missed two free throws with 0.2 seconds left by the Hawks had no time left.

The Bucks held a 45-43 lead at halftime after each team went on significant runs. The Bucks led by as many as 12 points with a 17-3 run between the first and second quarters. The Hawks only points were a Kris Humphries 3-pointer. The Hawks chipped away at the deficit and pulled within two points with a 13-2 run to end the second quarter.

Hardaway (14 points), Schroder (11) and Howard (10) scored all but eight of the Hawks’ first-half points. Antetokounmpo had 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks for the Bucks.

The Hawks got 15 third-quarter points from Schroder to take a 74-72 lead into the fourth quarter.