The set-up: The 37-34 Atlanta Hawks are barely holding on to the East's No. 5 spot, after five consecutive losses. Meanwhile, the 36-25 Milwaukee Bucks are just one game back of the sliding Hawks, having won 10 of their last 12.

Atlanta: The Hawks fell apart Wednesday at Washington, allowing 37 points in the 4th quarter in a 104-110 loss. That was a rare close one for the Hawks, who had lost the first d\four in their five-game skid by an average of 12.8 PPG. More bad news is on tap for the Hawks in this one, as power forward Paul Millsap (18.1 & 7.7) is expected to miss his fourth straight game with a knee injury. The good news would be that the Hawks are 3-0 against the Bucks this season, having won seven of the last nine meetings between the two teams.

Milwaukee: Giannis Antetokounmpo (23.0-8.5-5.4) scored 32 points and added 13 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a 116-98 win at Sacramento on Wednesday, as the Bucks capped an impressive 4-2 road trip.n "The Greek Freak" also had six assists, two steals and a block, as he continues to lead the league's hottest team while relishing the intensity of the stretch run. "We're chasing right now, so there's no pressure," Antetokounmpo told the media Wednesday. "We were 11th and now we're (tied for) sixth. We'll keep chasing and try to get even higher. We're having fun right now and playing good basketball."

The pick: Yes, Atlanta has won all three meetings with Milwaukee this season but all contests occurred before the Bucks turned things around. In three meetings with the Bucks this season, the Hawks have averaged 110.6 PPG. With that in mind, I'll make the Over a 10* play.