With four minutes left in the the game and the Hawks trying to mount a rather unexpected comeback attempt against the Bucks in Milwaukee, shooting guard Kent Bazemore was whistled for a technical foul by referee Jacyn Goble.
Milwaukee's Khris Middleton made the free throw, restoring the Bucks' lead to four, but instead of it being the deflating moment it could have been for a young team, it served to boost their resolve, as Bazemore went on to tie the score at 84-84 moments later.
Atlanta lost 97-92, but as the Hawks try to build toward the future, Bazemore's play -- and his emotions -- will be a big part of what the team tries to do.
"His energy, his spirit is a huge part of who we are," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "He might not have been as good as he wanted (at times Tuesday) to be, but he needs to remember the times when he's great. When he makes plays, makes shots and does things that give us a chance to win.
"He's doing a great job with his leadership, his voice and his spirit. He's just really good."
Midway through his fourth season with the Hawks and sixth overall, Bazemore is averaging 12.9 points on 41 percent shooting, and after knocking down four 3-pointers Tuesday night, is making 39.3 decent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
And with young players looking to him for guidance and leadership, he knows he needs to manage his emotions better at times -- something, he admits, comes with experience.
"I like to lead by example, but sometimes my own way," Bazemore said. "It's just part of me growing as a player and as a person. I love the fact that when I got (a technical) in the fourth quarter, all my teammates were around me, making sure I was good.
"It says a lot about this locker room, about how much we care about each other. They've seen it. Sometimes, in practice, I'll be freaking out, but it’s just part of the game. As I get older and play more, I'll learn how to channel it better and put it in the right place.”
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