The Hawks were back to full strength – such as it is – with the return of Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll on Monday night.
With their returns, the Hawks had their entire starting lineup against Philadelphia for the first time in six games.
Korver missed six straight games, all losses, due to back spasms. The issue flared up prior to the March 21 game against the Pelicans.
“Backs are one of those things where maybe it’s nagging a little bit for a while and you don’t think much of it,” Korver said. “I came to the game that night and was ready to play. I felt good in shoot-around that morning. Before I went out (for pregame warm-up), I was stiff. I tried to get loosened up before the game and it wouldn’t go. I got treatment and felt worse after the treatment. Backs are one of those things that you don’t always understand.”
Korver said he spent the past nine days receiving more treatment, including rest, ice and fusionetics. Korver missed five games last season due to back spasms.
“It’s been very difficult to sit on the floor in my living room and watch — or lay on the floor,” Korver said. “It’s been tough, for sure. The one week you are out, we have five games in a week. Obviously, the games matter right now and it was tough to watch. I’m glad to be back on the court.”
Carroll missed one game due to a stomach virus. He sat out Saturday’s loss to the Wizards just as the Hawks got Pero Antic back from a one-game absence for a sprained right ankle. Carroll said he was sore after a stint in the hospital to receive IV fluids.
“I’ve got to play tonight,” Carroll said beforehand. “My team needs me. I’m going to do what I’ve got to do.”
Season not a failure: The Hawks entered Monday's game with a one-game lead over the Knicks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the NBA Eastern Conference. The Knicks played at the Jazz Monday night.
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said he would not label the season a failure if his team does not qualify for the postseason.
“No matter what happens going down the stretch, there has been a lot of building, a lot of habits, a lot of foundation that has been laid,” Budenholzer said. “So, I can’t ever see myself labeling the season anything different. Obviously, we want to have success. If that is making the playoffs and being in it and competing in the playoffs, then that is where we’ll be.
“If for some reason that doesn’t happen going down the stretch, all year we’ve talked about what a great group of guys we have, how hard they’ve worked. … To discredit all that work and time and everything they’ve done this year would be a huge mistake on anyone’s part.”
Cunningham signs: Former Hawks player Jared Cunningham signed a 10-day contract with the Kings Monday. Cunningham played five games with the Hawks while be bounced between the NBA and the D-League. He was waived on Feb. 22.
Show of support: 76ers coach Brett Brown said Budenholzer reached out to him during the team's recently snapped 26-game losing streak. Budenholzer and Brown were long-time assistants with the Spurs before each getting a head coach position this season.
“People are thinking of you,” Brown said. “I got so many text messages during that period. The thing we didn’t want was pity. We didn’t want sympathy.”
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