Nets coach Lionel Hollins insists he made no defensive adjustment to stop Hawks guard Kyle Korver in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Korver had 21 and 17 points, respectively, in Games 1 and 2 of the series. However he had just two points in Game 3 when he shot 1 of 8 from the field and 0 of 5 from 3-point range.
“Our guys were more alert, aware of him,” Hollins said before Game 4 Monday. “Even when he was away from the ball, they were aware of that he might be coming out and they communicated with each other. Sometimes they switched, sometimes they didn’t switch. Switching took him away from some shots but you can’t switch all the time.”
Game 5, 6 updates
Game 5 of the Hawks-Nets series Wednesday will be Wednesday at either 7 or 8 p.m. and broadcast on TNT in addition to local coverage. The game will be at 7 p.m. if a Game 5 is necessary in the Trail Blazers-Grizzlies series and at 8 p.m. if not necessary.
In addition, if a Game 6 is necessary in the Hawks-Nets series it will be played Friday at 8 p.m. and broadcast by ESPN in addition to local coverage.
Wizards wait
The Wizards made quick work of the Raptors with a 4-0 sweep in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
They will have at least at least seven days to rest before facing the winner of the Hawks-Nets series.
The Hawks hold a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 tonight in Brooklyn. The series will return to Atlanta for Game 5 Wednesday.
According to the NBA, if the Hawks-Nets series concludes in six games or less, the Eastern Conference semifinal against the Wizards will move up and begin on Sunday, May 3. If the series concludes in seven games, it will begin on Tuesday, May 5.
Etc.
According to the NBA, going into Game 4 of their series the Hawks and Nets are the only two teams in the postseason that hadn’t reached the 100-point mark in any game. The Hawks had held playoff opponents under 100 points in eight consecutive games overall, dating back to last year’s playoffs. … The Hawks rank second in the postseason in forced turnovers at 16.0 per game. Following his Game 3 performance, Paul Millsap joined Larry Bird and Charles Barkley as the only players in playoff history to have at least 18 points, 17 rebounds, five steals, three assists and one block in a game. He was the only one of the three to do so while making a 3-pointer. … The Hawks inactives for Game 3 were Thabo Sefolosha (right fibula fracture) and Austin Daye.
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