Muscala to start for Millsap, no other changes imminent

Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (34) and Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Muscala (31) fight for a rebound in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (34) and Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Muscala (31) fight for a rebound in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

With Paul Millsap out for a third straight game, the Hawks returned to Mike Muscala to start at power forward. It appears no other changes to the starting lineup are imminent.

Muscala started against the Suns Wednesday and then Thabo Sefolosha started against the Pistons Friday. Millsap is out with a sore left hip suffered in a fall against the Jazz last week.

“He’s a good player,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said when asked why he returned to Muscala.

Following the 121-85 loss to the Pistons, Budenholzer was asked if he would consider lineup changes as the Hawks have lost five straight and eight of nine games.

“We’ll look at everything,” Budenholzer said.

However, the lineup against the Raptors included the four other normal starters in Dennis Schroder, Kyle Korver, Kent Bazemore and Dwight Howard. Budenholzer was asked whether he did consider any other changes. He indicated no immediate rush to change the group.

“I guess you consider everything,” Budenholzer said. “Ultimately, you’ve got to make some decisions. I don’t think it’s about lineups or anything like that. You try to figure out ways to help yourselves.”