What they said after the Hawks’ 115-102 loss to the Nuggets Wednesday:
Coach Mike Budendholzer
Opening statement: "Give Denver a lot of credit. They played really well. They did a lot of things on both ends of the court that gave us a lot of problems. Just a lot of credit to Denver."
On why couldn't turn around in second half: "Denver kept playing at a high level and we couldn't match it."
On Nuggets getting Hawks scrambling defensively: "I thought they executed their pick-and-roll game. Obviously, Danilo Gallinari had a big game, made some shots. They made enough 3s that it opened up their drive game. They kind of had everything going. We just couldn't guard them tonight."
On Nuggets shooting over 60 percent through three quarters: "They had a lot of good shots that they took advantage of. They had some balls go in that on another night might have bounced out. It's poor defense. When somebody shoots 60 percent, it's a little bit of everything."
Paul Millsap
On loss: "Give them credit. They played a good game. They spaced us out. They took advantage of our lack of effort, lack of focus."
On lack of effort: "I felt like we were playing hard. It's a tough game. Once a team like that gets confidence, it's tough to stop them. It seemed like everything they shot went in. I think it was more them than us."
On Hawks offensive trouble: "We weren't able to play our game. We weren't able to move the ball. We weren't able to get to the basket like we wanted to. Half of that was them, half of that was us. We didn't drive as much as we normally do."
Al Horford
On loss: "We weren't very good tonight. I don't think we came out with the right mindset as a team defensively. We weren't playing hard enough at times and I think that affected us. But you have to give them credit, they made a lot of tough shots. It was a combination, once we got down it was hard to get back in the game."
On eight straight losses in Denver: "This is the first time I felt like we lost here really, really bad. In the past, it's always been a one-, two-point game. It's been close. We really fought. They are a tough team to play at home."
Kyle Korver
On loss: "We didn't come out with the right level of intensity and desperation that we needed to. We talked about coming here and starting a really good road trip. Our last road trip when we went west was when we found ourselves. We really grew in confidence. We talked about doing the same thing. We didn't have a very good start. They got hot. They shot the lights out. They hit a lot of tough shots. Their confidence, obviously, really grew as the game went on. They really smacked us."
On Nuggets' offensive confidence: "They were hitting step-back 3s, quick 3s. That was probably one of their better shooting nights of the year. Any time you change coaches, it creates a lot of energy and you feel like it's a new start. They've been playing well the last few games so give them credit."
DeMarre Carroll
On loss: "Lack of effort. No energy. We can't afford to do that. Our lack of focus played a big part of this."
On Nuggets' offensive confidence: "We thought coming back in the second half we could put our foot on the gas but they didn't let up. They put their foot on the gas. You have to give them credit. They shot the ball really well and we just sucked."
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