The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 110-88 to level their NBA Eastern Conference finals series at two games apiece on Tuesday. 

Atalanta’s Serbian shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanović and small forward Kevin Heurter combined for 35 points as point guard Lou Williams top-scored with 21 points as well as five rebounds and eight assists. 

The Hawks, who are eyeing their first NBA Finals since 1961, were without 22-year-old point guard Trae Young, who has enjoyed a sensational playoff run this year.

Young, who fired them to victory in the first game against Bucks with a 48-point burst, was sidelined due to an ankle injury – which he suffered in the third quarter of the previous game. Young has averaged 29.8 points and 9.5 assists in 15 playoff games this year. 

However, the Bucks were also hit with injury crisis as their two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo limped out of the third quarter with a knee injury. 

The Hawks were leading 62-52 in the third when the towering Greek collapsed after landing awkwardly following a challenge on Clint Capela near the basket.

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Replays showed his knee appearing to buckle as he landed, with the 26-year-old being helped back the locker room. The Bucks later confirmed Antetokounmpo suffered a hyperextension in his left knee. 

The injury affected Bucks as the Hawks soon stretched their lead by 25-points to 87-62 at the end of the third. It was too little, too late for the Bucks as they rallied to win the fourth 26-23 but to no avail as the Hawks confortably levelled the series 2-2. 

Jrue Holiday led the scoring for the Bucks with 19, along with five rebounds and nine assists, while Khris Middleton – who led the scoring in their comeback win in game three – recorded just 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 

The Bucks will host the next game on Thursday.