Gustavo Ayon returned to the Hawks’ lineup nearly five weeks after he was injured in the team’s exhibition opener. The forward/center was activated for Saturday’s game against the Magic.
Ayon has not played since he injured his right shoulder Oct. 7. He missed the remainder of the exhibition season and the first five regular-season games. An MRI exam revealed inflammation and a rotator-cuff strain the day after he collided with the Heat’s Norris Cole. The original diagnosis called for Ayon to miss 4-8 weeks.
“I’m ready,” Ayon said “My shoulder is 100 percent, so I’m ready for the coach’s decision (on when he’ll play). Four weeks is a long time. I’m excited to come back.”
The return of the 6-foot-10 Ayon was an added bonus as the Hawks faced the Magic and their 7-0 center Nikola Vucevic. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer would not speculate before the game how much, if at all, Ayon would play.
“We feel great that his shoulder has progressed,” Budenholzer said. “The more healthy guys that we have, the more we can throw at a big like (Vucevic).”
Guard Jared Cunningham joined the injured Lou Williams as the Hawks’ inactive players against the Magic.
Defense key for Jenkins: John Jenkins, last year's first-round draft pick, has seen limited action this season. The guard has appeared in one of the first five games and played six minutes.
Although Jenkins missed two months this summer and most of the exhibition season with a back injury, Budenholzer said he is healthy and available.
“Defensively, we feel that is where we need to be better, so we are talking to John about making that his focus also, and that is a real priority,” Budenholzer said. “Offensively, we are doing OK. That is probably John’s strength. Right now, I think he needs to focus on that defensive end and make sure he is doing everything possible at that end of the court.”
Jenkins played 61 games last season and averaged 6.1 points in 14.8 minutes.
Bellamy funeral: Funeral services were held Saturday for Basketball Hall of Famer and former Hawks player Walt Bellamy. He died Nov. 2 at the age of 74. Services were held at the Shaw Temple AME Zion Church.
Rick Sund, the Hawks’ senior advisor for basketball operations attended the service.
“It was packed with a lot of friends, and a lot of important people were there to pay tribute to not just a great Hall of Famer but a great man,” Sund said. “He is such an ambassador for the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the NBA.”
Bellamy played 14 NBA seasons, including four-plus with the Hawks. In 338 games for Atlanta, he averaged 15.7 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists. The center was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1993.
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