Hawks guard Kyle Korver was a nominee for the NBA’s player of the week award in the Eastern Conference. The award for March 10-16 went to Bobcats’ center Al Jefferson.
Jefferson, playing for the Hawks’ opponent Monday night, led the Bobcats to a 4-0 week with averages of 24.3 points (second in the East) and 11.5 rebounds (fourth). He logged 37.7 minutes (tied eighth) and posted point-rebound double-doubles in three of the four games. The Clippers’ Blake Griffin was honored in the Western Conference.
“He is one of the best players in the East, one of the best players in the league,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said of Jefferson Monday morning. “As far as a low-post game, he is like a throwback. He is really hard to guard one-on-one in the post. He has a lot of moves and is really effective.”
In the Hawks’ three games last week, Korver averaged 19.6 points and made 11 of 13 3-pointers. In his past four games before Monday, Korver shot .727 (24 of 33) from the field, .875 (14 of 16) from 3-point range and made all 14 free-throw attempts. He scored at least 15 points with an average of 19 per game and made at least three 3-pointers.
Korver, who turned 33 on Monday, has compiled a streak of 23 consecutive free throws.
Bracket-bound Hawks: The Hawks have five players who played collegiately teams that made the NCAA tournament.
The group includes Al Horford (Florida) and Mike Scott (Virginia), whose former teams are No. 1 seeds. Florida is the top seed in the South Region and Virginia is the top seed in the East Region.
Scott declined making a prediction on how Virginia would fare in the tournament.
“I just want them to do well,” Scott said. “I’m not going to make a prediction and jinx them.”
Elton Brand (Duke) represents the third seed in the Midwest and Korver (Creighton) represents the third seed in the West. Cartier Martin (Kansas State) represents the ninth seed in the Midwest.
Millsap's back: Paul Millsap has put up steady numbers in the five games since returning from a right knee contusion. The All-Star forward has averaged 18.8 points and 7.8 rebounds after missing five games with the injury.
