The final score had the Hawks losing to Denver by 13 points.
Rest assured, the Hawks know they trailed by as many as 34 points in what really was a lopsided 115-102 loss to start a six-game trip Wednesday.
The Hawks (50-14) don’t have much experience losing this season. However, four of their losses have been by a substantial amount. They suffered big defeats to the Cavaliers, Bucks and Raptors before the loss to the Nuggets, trailing all by at least 25 points.
“We just have to flush it and know that in an NBA season you have a few of those,” Elton Brand said of the latest loss. “We are at four right now. We don’t want to have too many more of those.”
The Hawks must move on from the loss when they play at the Suns on Friday night. The Suns are fighting for a playoff berth as they enter the contest 2 1/2 games out of the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference. The Hawks watched plenty of video during shootaround Friday morning — but none from the loss to the Nuggets.
“(Coach Mike Budenholzer) switches it up,” Brand said. “He gauges the temperature of the team and where we are at. Some days, he can’t sleep after those (big losses). The other day, he said flush it. We didn’t watch one piece of film about it. We moved on.
“If we don’t bounce back, I’m sure we’ll be watching a lot of film of both games.”
The Hawks are nearing the end of the grind of an 82-game NBA regular season. They will have 17 games remaining after playing the Suns. A playoff berth has been clinched, but the Hawks still have plenty to play for with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference well within their grasp.
Brand said the Hawks’ success has lessened, to a certain degree, the grind of a lengthy season.
“It’s less of a grind mentally,” Brand said. “After losses, your mind is racing. I could have done this better. I could have done that better. You don’t sleep well. You win, you’re happy. You go to sleep, get some rest and look forward to the next day.
“Physically, it’s still a grind. But mentally, it’s not such a grind.”
The Hawks entered Friday’s game with magic numbers of four to clinch the Southeast Division and seven to clinch the top seed in the East.
Etc.: Mike Scott missed Friday's game with a left big toe strain suffered in the loss to the Nuggets. … Dennis Schroder (right ankle sprain) and John Jenkins (left wrist strain) were listed as probable. … NBA TV has picked up the Hawks at Wizards game April 12. It still will be televised by SportSouth.
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