Credit: Chris Vivlamore
Credit: Chris Vivlamore
Miami -- The Hawks seized another opportunity to rest some key players as they enter the final quarter of the regular season.
Starters Jeff Teague, DeMarre Carroll and Al Horford and reserve Pero Antic did not play against the Heat Saturday night. Horford, whose wife delivered the couple’s first child this week, did not make the trip to Miami.
“Just kind of working our way through the season and keep us in a good place health wise,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said.
The Hawks are on the second of back-to-back games having played the Magic at home Friday.
In the pre-game locker room, Teague (left thigh) and Carroll (left shoulder) received electric stimulus treatment. Horford was the only player not to travel.
The Hawks started a lineup of Dennis Schroder, Kyle Korver, Kent Bazemore, Paul Millsap and Elton Brand. It is the first start of the season for Brand, the third for Bazemore and the sixth for Schroder.
With Thabo Sefolosha (right calf strain) also out, the Hawks had a four-man bench of John Jenkins, Shelvin Mack, Mike Muscala and Mike Scott.
Antic was briefly shaken up Friday when he banged knees with a Magic player. The Hawks have been limiting the center on back-to-back games.
Resting players is not new for Budenholzer. He rested all five starters over two road games in January. He sat Teague, Carroll and Millsap in a win over the 76ers on Jan. 13. The following night he sat Korver and Horford in a win over the Celtics.
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