Hawks vs. Bucks: Game 5 betting odds, preview, and pick

The Atlanta Hawks evened up the series without Trae Young in a Game 4, when the Milwaukee Bucks lost Giannis Antetokounmpo to injury. Which shorthanded team will win this pivotal Game 5?

We have the betting odds and preview you need before Game 5 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

Hawks continue to defy doubters

Every time that the Hawks look like they are dead, they shock the sports world with another huge win. This time, they did it without their young star, Young, who sat out with a bone bruise in his foot. Atlanta had to rely on veteran point guard Lou Williams to step up, and he did not disappoint.

Williams went off for 21 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in 35 minutes. He combined for 13 points, three rebounds, and five assists in the first three games of this series (44 minutes). That was the first game the 34-year-old has played more than 30 minutes since April 28, and only the sixth time all season.

Young’s status for Game 5 is still questionable, but Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Wednesday "there is not great optimism" Young will play in Game 5.

The Greek Freak accident

These playoffs have been filled with devastating injuries to star players. Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals saw yet another. Antetokounmpo went down with what looked to be a serious knee injury in the third quarter Tuesday night.

Fortunately, tests revealed no structural damage, and there is still a chance he can return to play this postseason. However, he is doubtful for Game 5 and the Bucks will need to find a way to win this pivotal contest without him.

Game 5 will be only the 12th game all season that the Bucks will play without the "Greek Freak" in the lineup. The Bucks went 6-5 in 11 games without him during the regular season, but 0-2 against teams that made the playoffs.

Who will be the Game 5 hero?

With both superstars likely to miss Game 5, who will step up to lead their team to the NBA Finals?

The Bucks have All-Stars Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, and the Hawks have Bogdan Bogdanovic and John Collins.

Middleton had another bad shooting night in Game 4, as he went 0-for-7 from three-point range. Holiday also struggled, with a 2-for-7 performance from downtown. They will need to improve those numbers significantly in Game 5, and guys like Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis will also need to contribute big minutes.

Bogdanovic finally ended his cold streak in Game 4, with 20 points and six made threes. However, Collins had one of his worst games of the postseason, with only four points and seven rebounds. Cam Reddish has steadily improved since his return from injury, and he could be a massive factor, if Young sits out again and Williams cannot put up another 35 minutes of quality basketball.

NBA Pick: Hawks +2, Under 215.5

The Hawks are more equipped to win without Young than the Bucks are to win without Antetokounmpo. Too many games this postseason with Milwaukee were just Antetokounmpo and Middleton, with little to no help on the offensive end.

I like the Hawks to go up 3-2 in this series, with another low-scoring victory.

Featured player prop: Bogdan Bogdanovic Over 15.5 points (-113)

Bogdanovic was forced to be a scoring threat for the Hawks in Game 4, I believe you will see the rejuvenated Serbian again in Game 5.