The Hawks will be without Al Horford, Kent Bazemore and Pero Antic for Saturday’s exhibition game against the Grizzlies.
Antic (broken nose) will not travel with the team. Horford (pectoral) and Bazemore (foot) will make the trip but will not play as they continue to rehab from injuries.
Antic did some shooting during Friday’s light practice. He has been fitted with a mask to protect his nose, broken by an accidental elbow from Adreian Payne last week. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer expects that Antic will begin to do some contact work, likely Monday, after the team returns from the game against the Grizzlies.
Horford continued contact work as he played four-on-four Friday prior to the team’s departure to Memphis Friday
“We feel good about how he is progressing,” Budenholzer said of the starting center.
Budenholzer said he has not made a decision on how much the starters will play against the Grizzlies. Kyle Korver, who missed the exhibition opener this week for the birth of a child, will play.
“It will be a typical preseason game, some guys will play more and some guys will play less,” Budenholzer said.
The exhibition against the Grizzlies will allow Budenholzer and his staff to continue to evaluate the position battles that are ongoing in camp – mostly the backup point guard spot behind Jeff Teague. Shelvin Mack and Dennis Schroder are competing for the spot. Budenholzer would not tip his hand as to whether one player has an advantage over the other.
“That is the beauty of the preseason and the NBA that we have a month to do this,” Budenholzer said. “To be honest, those battles go on all throughout the year. As a coach you want to be open and aware and encourage competitive opportunities.”
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