The Hawks survived a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback by the Hornets and held on for a 97-94 victory Friday night at Philips Arena. The win gave coach Mike Budenholzer his 100th career regular-season victory. He is the second fastest coach to 100 wins in franchise history behind only Lenny Wilkens. Budenholzer needed 167 games to reach the mark just one more than Wilkens.
The Hawks have won two games in two days after dropping their season opener.
Here are five observations from the game:
The difference
The Hawks went on a 10-2 between the third and fourth quarters to open up a close game. After five straight points from Al Horford, the Hawks led by 13 points early in the final period. They would push their advantage to 13 points after a Kent Bazemore corner 3-pointer, his fourth of the game, and 14 points minutes later. The Hornets rallied and pulled within two points, 92-90, with 1:00 remaining. Paul Millsap tipped in a Bazemore miss with 36.6 seconds left for a needed cushion. Al Jefferson tipped in a shot to make it a two-point game again with 17.7 seconds left. Jeff Teague and Lamar Patterson sank three free throws and Thabo Sefolosha forced a turnover in the final seconds. Still, the Hawks had to survive a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer by Kemba Walker.
Starters solid
The Hawks got another solid effort from their starters – even with Kyle Korver inactive. All five were in double-figure scoring by the end of the third quarter. Bazemore (19), Millsap (18), Horford (18), Teague (14) and Dennis Schroder (14) combined for all but 13 of the point total. The Hawks were 17-3 last season when all five starters hit double figures. Horford, Millsap, Teague and Schroder have scored in double figures in all three games this season. Millsap added 10 rebounds.
“A lot better since,” Horford said of the Hawks last two games. “I’m always critical of us as a team. This game, maybe because of fatigue, didn’t close it out like we needed to but we are moving in the right direction.”
Dynamic duo
The Hawks started a backcourt of Teague and Schroder. The duo combined for 28 points, six assists and six rebounds. The combo was again a big asset for the Hawks in breaking down the Hornets defense. Schroder is two points shy of 1,000 career points.
Bazemore gets going
Kent Bazemore got his offensive game going. He scored 10 first-half points – twice as many as the first two games of the season combined. Bazemore connected on all three 3-point attempts in the first half. He finished 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Bazemore also had nine rebounds.
“I just let the game come to me and I was a little more aggressive,” Bazemore said. “I was running the floor with energy and getting to the open spots and my teammates got me the ball.”
In transition
Hornets coach Steve Clifford has not been happy with his team’s transition defense during the exhibition seasons and the regular-season opener. The Hornets have been near the top of league in the category under Clifford. The Hawks took advantage of several lapses and held a 16-9 advantage in the category after one half. They finished with a 21-13 advantage.
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