Tiago Splitter laughed when asked if he had spoken to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. The new Hawks center sat at his locker following a 100-86 exhibition win over his former team Wednesday and recalled a moment during the game.

“It was funny after I made two free throws he said ‘Good job, Tiago,’” Splitter said. “That’s the first time he (ever) said something good to me during the game. That was funny.”

Splitter finished with three points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in 18 minutes against his former team.

The Hawks acquired Splitter in an offseason trade. While he shared laughs with several former teammates during the exhibition game, Splitter said he is a Hawk now.

“I’m glad I got to play for him but that’s the past,” Splitter said of Popovich. “Now, I’ve got to think about the Hawks, Coach (Mike Budenholzer) and playing here.”

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