Giannis Antetokounmpo sits as the Bucks conclude their trip to Abu Dhabi with another loss to Hawks

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The Milwaukee Bucks wrapped up their trip to the United Arab Emirates Saturday with a 118-109 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The team was scheduled to fly back to the United States immediately after the game.

Here are some takeaways from the game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Wesley Matthews out for Bucks

After making his exhibition season debut on Thursday, Giannis Antetokounmpo was held out of Saturday’s game. On Thursday, Antetokounmpo played 21 minutes over three quarters and scored 19 points. Matthews has yet to suit up in the preseason after tweaking an ankle in practice at the end of September.

Hawks guard Trae Young dribbles past Bucks forward Bobby Portis during their preseason game Saturday at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Hawks guard Trae Young dribbles past Bucks forward Bobby Portis during their preseason game Saturday at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Bucks have a back-to-back on tap against Bulls, Nets

Though Milwaukee is traveling back across the globe Saturday, they will have to get their bodies adjusted to the Central time zone quickly as they head to Chicago on Tuesday and then finish the preseason with a home game against Brooklyn on Wednesday.

“It is not ideal,” Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game Saturday. “There are some circumstances that I think were unavoidable and you just gotta kind of roll with it. I think it is the preseason, so there are some things that we can do or we’re comfortable with in trying to manage and mitigate how difficult it is to come off of this and go into a back-to-back. But, it is the preseason. I think we’ll find a way to get our work in and time in. There’s very, very good teams that I don’t think guys are playing every preseason game and things like that so we’ll find ways to manage and get through that back-to-back when we get home. And this has been a good experience.”

Foul trouble for the Bucks

The Bucks were whistled for 22 fouls on Thursday against Atlanta with their healthy starters playing, and three of them were on three-point attempts. As the Bucks begin to work on an adjusted defensive philosophy of contesting more threes, some hiccups can be expected — but Budenholzer still wasn't pleased with that.

"They're very good offensively so it's good to kind of test ourselves defensively and see where we can improve and get better," Budenholzer said before the game. "The fouling was, I would say, really bad. Particularly fouling the three-point shooters."

On Saturday, with reserves seeing more time, it wasn't much better. Jordan Nwora fouled Atlanta's AJ Griffin on a three-pointer and the Bucks were called for 26 fouls. And, eight of them were of the offensive variety, including several on illegal screens.

A deeper look at the numbers in Bucks vs. Hawks

0: Total points for University of Wisconsin alumnus and current Hawk Frank Kaminsky in 28 minutes over two games. He took just four shots.

6-7: Three-point shooting for Bucks guard Jevon Carter over the two games in Abu Dhabi.

15: Points for Bobby Portis on 7 of 14 shooting on Saturday to lead the Bucks' regulars. Lindell Wigginton added 16 off the bench to lead the team.

28.8: Average distance in feet of Trae Young’s 7 three-pointers.

49.2%: Of the Hawks’ 63 first-half points were scored by Young (31).

Did you notice Jrue Holiday vs. Trae Young?

With all-stars Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Dejounte Murray all out of action, the spotlight was on the team’s two point guards. They went head-to-head in the first quarter, with Young playing all 12 minutes and Jrue Holiday playing 11. The two put on a show offensively, with Young going 5-for-9 for 12 points and Holiday 2-for-7 and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line for seven points. They each had three assists in the opening frame.

Young stayed hot — including some deep logo threes — and poured in 31 first-half points in 19 minutes on the strength of 7 of 9 shooting from behind the three-point line. His finishing points were a driving scoop around Holiday.

Holiday’s shot continued to elude him, however, as he went 4-for-11 in the first half with 12 points.

Trae Young had the play(s) of the game

This was a Trae Young game, as the Hawks’ superstar responded to the Bucks’ emphasis on three-point defense and an 0-for-4 day from distance on Thursday with an emphasis on going very deep Saturday. Pick any of Young’s highlight-reel threes as a play of the game, as his effort from beyond the arc helped led the Hawks to victory. His ability to make logo-distance threes is representative of what Young can do — and how he can stretch a defense beyond its limits.

Video of the game

The play didn’t result in anything, but Young tried to take advantage of Bobby Portis on a switch.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis sits as Bucks conclude trip to Abu Dhabi with loss to Hawks