The Hawks got a brief respite Sunday. It won’t last long.
There is a big week ahead with three home games – and plenty of story lines to go with each.
* The Hawks host Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and the Thunder on Monday. Beside the Thunder’s star power, they are now coached by Billy Donovan, who happened to lead Al Horford to back-to-back national championships at the University of Florida. It will also be the Hawks’ 20th game in a span of 35 days.
* The Hawks host the Raptors on Wednesday and fan favorite DeMarre Carroll makes his return to Atlanta. The forward spent two seasons with the Hawks but signed as a free agent with the Raptors when the Hawks were forced to choose between him and Paul Millsap. There could be a little bite in the Junkyard Dog – now known as JYD 2.0 in Toronto.
* The Hawks host the Lakers on Friday in what could be Kobe Bryant’s final game in Atlanta. The Lakers guard is always a huge draw in Atlanta. Although nothing is official, it appears the aged and injury-prone Bryant is making final NBA tour.
The Hawks (11-8) are 4-7 in the past 11 games after winning seven in a row. They are coming off Saturday’s 108-88 drubbing by the Spurs that ended a stint of four games in five days. They could be without Tiago Splitter for a fifth straight game as the reserve center continues to battle a sore right hip. The Hawks had no update to their injury report on Sunday.
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