Game Preview: Nets at Hawks
When/where: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Philips Arena
TV: Fox Sports Southeast
Stream: Fox Sports Go
Radio: 92.9 The Game
Starters:
Hawks: Ersan Ilyasova, Taurean Prince, Miles Plumlee, Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore
Nets: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Tyler Zeler, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeMarre Carroll, Allen Crabbe
Inactives:
Hawks:
- Dewayne Dedmon (left tibia stress reaction), Mike Muscala (sprained left ankle) and Taurean Prince (dislocated right ring finger) are probable.
- Marco Belinelli (sprained left ankle) and DeAndre' Bembry (left groin strain) are out.
Nets:
- DeMarre Carroll (right knee sprain) will play.
- D'Angelo Russell (left knee surgery) and Isaiah Whitehead (NBA G League assignment) are out.
What to watch for:
One of the most interesting factors for Friday’s game between the Hawks and Nets could be found in the turnover margin.
After defeating the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night and ending their trip of five games on the road, the Hawks (11-30) return home to Philips Arena forcing opponents a league-high 16 turnovers per game.
The Nets (15-26), by comparison, average 23 turnovers per game, tied for 23rd in the league with the Hawks.
Over the last six games, the Hawks have scored 22.7 points per game off opponent turnovers.
“We’ve had a problem turning the ball over lately,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Not so much in the Detroit game, just generally. We’ve declined in that area and on the road, you have to value the ball. The Hawks are the first in the league in turning people over… so that’s a high priority tonight.”
The Nets, on three-game losing streak, also have a disadvantage in shooting beyond the arc. The Nets are shooting 34.9 percent of their 3-point shots this season, 29th in the NBA, while the Hawks are fifth in the league in 3-point percentage, 37.6.
The Nets are struggling to shoot from the field in general this season, ranking last in the league with 43.9 percent.
The Nets will also not have their leading scorer Friday against the Hawks due to the absence of Russell who averages 20.9 points per game.
With the absence of Russell for Friday, the Nets poor shooting from the field and the team’s struggle with turnovers this season, the Hawks have a good chance statistically to win two-straight for the second time this season.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie liked his development this season and hopefully Schorder gives Dinwiddie some trouble down the court.
“I think he’s gotten an opportunity that he hadn’t had but he’s probably earned that opportunity and he’s taking advantage of it and I think with his size and overall game, he’s been good against us, but it’s obviously not just against us. I think everybody’s really impressed by him.”
Notes:
- The Nets are coming off a 114-80 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday where the Nets allowed the Pistons to shoot 51.6 percent from the field and 47.6 percent beyond the arc. The Nets also were outrebounded 54-35 by the Pistons.
- Belinelli, who averages 11.8 points per game, will sit out his first game this season with an ankle injury against the Nets.
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