Hawks coach Budenholzer benches Taurean Prince at Pacers

Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, left, talks with Taurean Prince during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Friday, March 9, 2018. The Pacers won 112-87. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

By Michael Cunningham

March 10, 2018

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer benched starting small forward Taurean Prince for the second half of the team’s loss at the Pacers on Friday night.

Budenholzer sent out rookie Jaylen Morris to begin the second half alongside the four other players who had started the game. Prince didn’t return to the game.

“Just a coach’s decision,” Budenholzer told Fox Sports Southeast reporter Andre Aldridge after the game.

Budenholzer had an animated conversation with Prince after removing him and the other four starters from the game with 4:04 left in the first quarter. The coach appeared to take issue with Prince’s defense on the preceding play, a layup by Pacers forward Bogjan Bogdanovic. Prince fouled Bogdanovic on the play and Bogdanovic made the free throw.

Prince returned to the game late in the first quarter and played 10 minutes in the second period.

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