Center Brook Lopez starred with a 33-point return as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 123-112 in game five to take a 3-2 lead of the Eastern Conference finals series on Thursday. The 33-year-old also recorded seven rebounds, as Khris Middleton (26), Jhrue Holiday (25) and Bobby Portis (22) scored over 20 points each to ensure the Bucks did not miss injured two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

The 26-year-old Greek center is out with a knee injury and watched from sidelines as his team took another step towards their first NBA finals in decades. The win puts the Bucks one game away from reaching their first NBA finals series since 1974. 

“We came out tonight and just did our best to dominate at both ends of the floor,” Lopez said in his post-match comments. “We did a great job of playing together. When everyone is scoring and everyone is doing their thing it is tough on their defence.”

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The Bucks raced to an early lead, finishing the first quarter 14 points ahead with the score at 36-22. The Hawks fought back to win two of the next three quarters but the Bucks held on to their lead to take a lead to Atlanta. 

The Hawks will host game six of the series on Sunday, July 4. The winner of the best-of-seven series will face Phoenix Suns, who clinched the Western Conference finals with a 4-2 series win over the Los Angeles Clippers. 

The Hawks were also without their key player, 22-year-old point guard Trae Young, who missed his second consecutive game after suffering a bone bruise in game three. In his absence, shooting Bogdan Bogdanovic top-scored with 28 points, five rebounds and four assists in the loss. 

The win improved Bucks’ playoff record at home to 7-1. In the regular season, they were 6-5 without Antetokounmpo in the lineup, and 40-21 with him.