A recap of the Hawks’ 121-97 win over the Celtics Tuesday:
Noteworthy
* Having lost five of their previous seven games, and looking listless in that process, the Hawks turned in their most complete game of the season — and almost certainly their most energetic — while tying their season high in points and setting a shooting mark (56.3 percent) with 33 assists. Atlanta (10-6) made 45-of-80 shots, and 12-of-24 3-pointers to offset a season-high-tying 20 turnovers.
* Paul Millsap went for 25 points and nine rebounds as one of three Hawks to finish with a +/- rating of 20 or better. He was +20, Kyle Korver was +24 after scoring 11 points and making all three of his 3-pointers, and Al Horford was +25 with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a blocked shot.
* Thabo Sefolosha pitched his best game as a Hawk while starting for the injured Kent Bazemore at small forward. He scored 15 points while making 7-of-8 shots, adding seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocked shots.
* Point guard Jeff Teague’s return to the starting lineup after he missed three games with a sprained left ankle and then played one game off the bench was a success. He logged 16 points and a game-high nine assists.
* Atlanta’s 33 assists gave them four games of 30 or more this season, and 10 of 25 or more. The Hawks entered second in the NBA with 25.8 dimes per outing.
* Avery Bradley scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half on 8-of-12 shooting, but just six points in the third quarter and not one in the fourth — when he didn’t get off a shot in 4:08.
* Former Georgia State star R.J. Hunter had a nice return to Atlanta. The rookie shooting guard came off the bench to score 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-3 3-pointers, with two rebounds, two assists and two steals. The points, field goals made, 3-pointers made, and steals were career highs.
* Tim Hardaway Jr. played for the first time since being traded from the Knicks in the offseason. He scored 3 points, hitting the last of his three shots from distance, and added an assist in 12:11.
* Mike Scott scored a season-high 15, including 10 in the fourth quarter as Atlanta dropped a season-high 40 on Boston.
Key stat
2
The Hawks trailed just twice, at 0-2 and 5-6. Atlanta was tied once, also in the first quarter. They led the final 45:32 after a Teague layup.
Quote of the game
“That’s the mentality that we’ve got to have. It doesn’t matter who’s on the court, or who we’re playing, what night it is, [if it’s] back-to-backs … we’ve got to compete. With the talent we have, we’ll end up on the winning side most of the time.” — Millsap, on the topic of Atlanta’s heightened energy and focus.
Report card
Offense: A-
Beyond Atlanta’s 20 turnovers, there wasn’t much to critique. They outscored Boston 50-34 in the paint and 18-11 on second-chance points (making all eight of their shots). They opened with a season-high 33 first-quarter points and closed with a season-high 40. What was there to complain about? Oh, yeah; the 20 turnovers earned the “-” sign.
Defense: B+
Beyond Bradley’s 19 first-half points, the Hawks didn’t have a consistent defensive issue. They were at their best in the fourth quarter, when Boston made just 6-of-16 shots and Atlanta won 14-3 on the boards on the way to a 33-23 overall edge on the glass. That was a lot different than the Celtics’ 50-35 rebounding advantage on Nov. 13, when Boston whipped Atlanta 106-93 in Beantown.
About the Author
