One team, by all rights, wasn’t supposed to be here, yet they managed to go on a late run of success despite the loss of their big man. The team? the Milwaukee Bucks. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks have been to the playoffs the past two seasons; so if anything else, the Hawks have the experience going for them.

The Hawks would put that to the test as they hosted the Bucks in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs Saturday at Philips Arena. As it would turn out, the Hawks would pile it on in the first half and would easily dispose of the Bucks 102-92.

Atlanta was nearly perfect in the opening quarter while Milwaukee looked overwhelmed; the Hawks made 15 of 23 shots, controlled the boards, blocked three shots and didn’t commit any turnovers. Meanwhile, the Bucks went 7-for-21 and turned the ball over four times.

Al Horford and Josh Smith scored eight points each in the opening period, and Atlanta made it 32-12 on Jamal Crawford’s free throw in the final minute of the quarter before settling for a 34-17 lead. They would increase their advantage to 23 in the first half, shooting a blistering 62 percent from the floor.

Milwaukee tried to make a game of it in the second half, taking advantage of a sluggish Hawks squad to cut the deficit to 77-70 late in the third quarter. But Mike Bibby hit a huge three-pointer and Atlanta took an 81-70 lead into the final quarter, a lead they would not relinquish in the final 12 minutes of the contest.

Six Hawks scored in double-digits, led by Joe Johnson with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals while Bibby added 19 (including 3 three-pointers) with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal; Crawford chipped in 17 (including three treys) with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while Horford poured in 15 with 7 rebounds, an assist and 5 blocks while Smith secured a double-double, scoring 12 with 10 boards, 4 assists and 4 blocks.

Brandon Jennings led the Bucks with a game-high 34 points (including 4 three-pointers), 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal while John Salmons added 16 with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 steals; Ersan Ilyasova chipped in 11 with 6 rebounds and a steal.

Atlanta takes their 1-0 series advantage into their next game on Tuesday, hosting Milwaukee.