Jenkins puts together back-to-back 20-point games
John Jenkins averaged 22 points, with a .682 field-goal percentage, and five assists in the past two games before Friday’s game against the Bucks.
The rookie made 15 of 22 field goals, including 6 of 7 3-pointers, and all eight free-throw attempts. He scored 23 points against the Spurs and 21 against the 76ers to become the first Hawks rookie to record back-to-back 20-point games since Josh Childress in 2005.
“You can see our team has all the confidence in the world in John; particularly when he catches the ball, he is lacing it up,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “Everybody likes the way he plays. I think as we move forward with John, we will continue to get him the ball more and more as far as what we do because he is not only a shot maker, but he can take it off the dribble as well.”
In other news:
- The Hawks had every player healthy and available against the Bucks on Friday, a luxury they have not had in the past nine games. "It feels weird," Drew said.
- With three games remaining in the regular season, Jeff Teague ranks fourth on the Hawks' all-time single-season free-throw percentage list at .882. He trails Tom McMillen (.891 in 1978-79), Jason Terry (.887 in 2002-03) and Tyronn Lue (.883 in 2006-07).
- Following Friday's game, the Hawks are off until their final home game of the season Tuesday. It will be the fourth week, not including the All-Star break, that the Hawks have not played on either Saturday or Sunday.
- Teague will make an appearance at the Boost Mobile retail store in Decatur from 3-5 p.m. Saturday. The guard will sign autographs, take pictures and do voicemail recordings with fans. Teague also will help present a check for $5,000 from Boost Mobile to the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals.
About the Author
Chris Vivlamore is the sports editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has served as reporter and editor at the AJC since 2003.
