When/where: 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, 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.
Trail Blazers: Al-Farouq Aminu, Jusuf Nurkic, Shabazz Napier, Evan Turner and C.J. McCollum.
Inactives:
For the Hawks, Dennis Schröder (left quad contusion) is listed as probable while Dewayne Dedmon (left tibia stress reaction) is out.
Before Saturday’s game, Budenholzer said he was confident in Schroder’s ability to play against the Trail Blazers.
Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard (right hamstring) is out. Meyers Leonard (right ankle) and Noah Vonleh (right fourth finger) are probable.
Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said Leonard and Vonleh would most likely be available. Stotts also said the team was waiting to hear if Lillard would be available after he warmed up, but Lillard was later listed as out.
What to watch for:
While Toronto Raptors snapped the Hawks first two-game win streak of the season on Friday, the Trail Blazers (18-16) are coming off a 114-110 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
In the win, center Jusuf Nurkic recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds, C.J. McCollum recorded 34 points and seven rebounds and power forward Al-Farouq Aminu recorded 10 rebounds.
One of the most interesting statistical matchups of Saturday’s game between the Hawks and Trail Blazers will be watching if the Hawks continue their success beyond the arc.
Entering Saturday’s game, the Hawks are tied at sixth in the league, shooting 38 percent beyond the arc. Dewayne Dedmon leads the Hawks in 3-point percentage with 48.3 percent with Luke Babbitt (44.1 percent), Taurean Prince (42.2 percent), Ersan Ilysova (40 percent) and Marco Belinelli (38.7 percent) close behind.
The Trail Blazers, however, enter Saturday tied along with the Golden State Warriors at sixth in the league in opponents’ 3-point shooting percentage (.351).
In addition to their success in 3-point shots, the Hawks are also 13th in the league in shooting percentage from the field. The Hawks average 103.9 points per game entering Saturday’s game.
Defensively, the Trail Blazer should pose a challenge to the Hawks after holding opponents to an average of 100.6 points, fourth best in the league.
Atlanta, however, is statistically struggling on defense, allowing opponents to shoot 47.4 percent from the field, second-worst in the NBA. The only team allowing opponents a higher shooting percentage in the NBA are the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Hawks (9-26) have also allowed opponents 108.5 points per game, 24th in the league.
Portland is one of the worst teams in the league (26th) in shooting percentage from the field, sinking 44.4 percent of their shots, and averaging 102 points per game (23rd).
Notes:
- With all his dunking and time spent near the rim, Hawks rookie John Collins is one of the main reason for the Hawks ranking 13th in the league in shooting from the field (.458). Collins is shooting 60.9 percent from the field, fourth-best in the NBA.
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