Kyle Korver had something to say.
And then something to do.
The Hawks shooting guard spoke up during a Hawks timeout after the team blew a 17-point fourth quarter lead to the Pelicans Friday night. Less than a minute later, the teams were tied again, this time at 108-108, with 3:37 remaining when just seven minutes early the Hawks enjoyed the comfortable margin.
Center Al Horford recalled Korver’s words during the break.
“Kyle actually told us ‘Hey, we’ve worked really hard in this game. We have to stay strong and finish the game out,’” Horford said after the Hawks held off the Pelicans 121-115 for their sixth straight win. “As soon as he said that, we came out and got on a little run.”
It was Korver who started the winning run.
With the game tied, Korver came off a screen, took a pass from Kent Bazemore and drained a 3-pointer. It was his fourth of the game. On the Pelicans’ ensuing possession, Korver stole a bad pass from Jrue Holiday. Jeff Teague took the turnover in for a layup. Teague would add a pair of free throws to complete a 7-0 Hawks run and the Hawks closed out the Pelicans.
Korver finished with a perfect shooting night. He was 8 of 8 from the field, including 4 of 4 from 3-point range, and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line for a team-high 22 points. He added seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block to complete his best game of the season. According to the Hawks, Korver is the only player in franchise history to make at least eight field goals and four 3-pointers without a miss.
Horford said he didn’t realize Korver had not missed until after the game when the two, sitting next to each other in the visiting locker room, perused the final boxscore.
“It was pretty cool,” Horford said. “I wish I had gotten him the ball a little more. He did a great job tonight.”
For Korver, the shooting performance was a long time coming. He has struggled with his shot early in the season. The sharp-shooter was could not work out during the summer following offseason surgeries to his right ankle and right elbow. There have been glimpses of a return to form but mostly in practices. He entered the game 16 of 37 from the field, and just 5 of 20 from 3-point range, in his four games.
“Things are starting to come together,” Korver said. “I’m not going to say it’s all there yet but I’m feeling better the last week or so. Things are coming together and I’m feeling good. It’s nice come out and have a good shooting night and hopefully I can carry it over because it’s been pretty bad to this point.”
Now, there is the matter of Saturday night’s game. It’s the second of back-to-back games, and the fourth in five nights. The Hawks have held Korver out of the second of consecutive games twice already this season for ankle rehabilitation.
Can coach Mike Budenholzer hold him out Saturday after a perfect night Friday?
“I’m going to have a discussion with Bud on the plane,” Korver said. “We’ll see what happens.”
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