The Hawks did not alter their starting lineup for Thursday’s game against the Celtics meaning regulars Paul Millsap and Kent Bazemore continued to come off the bench as they work their way back from injury.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said both would remain on minute restrictions. Millsap will not play in Friday’s game at the Cavaliers in the second of back-to-back games. Millsap returned Sunday after missing eight games with left knee synovitis. He played 26 minutes. Bazemore played the past three games after missing five games with a right knee bone bruise.
The Hawks starters remain Dennis Schroder, Tim Hardaway Jr., Taurean Prince, Ersan Ilyasova and Dwight Howard.
Sefolosha settlement
Thabo Sefolosha’s settlement with the New York City police was $4 million, according to the New York Times. Sefolosha filed the civil lawsuit last year for injuries suffered during an arrest in 2015 outside a city nightclub. Sefolosha was acquitted of three charges brought against him.
In a statement to the New York Times, police spokesman Nick Paolucci said: “This settlement is not a concession that Mr. Sefolosha was blameless in this matter and there was no admission of liability by the defendants, but in light of the gravity of his injuries, the potential impact on his career as a professional athlete and the challenge for a jury in sorting out the facts in this incident, the resolution of the case was in the best interests of the city.”
Sefolosha suffered a broken right leg and ligament damage to his ankle during his arrest in the early morning hours of April 7, 2015 outside the night club 1Oak. He missed the rest of the regular season and playoffs as the Hawks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals following season-ending surgery. Sefolosha faced three misdemeanor counts, alleging that he disobeyed orders to move away from a crime scene and then resisted arrest. After declining a plea bargain, Sefolosha was acquitted of all the charges in a weeklong trial in October of 2016.
Millsap nominated
Millsap was nominated for the Magic Johnson Award by the Professional Basketball Writers Association. The award recognizes the player who best combines excellence on the court with cooperation with the media and fans. Other nominees for the award are the Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan, the Pacers’ Paul George, the Warriors’ Draymond Green and the Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard.
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