A right knee contusion will cost Paul Millsap at least two more games. The Hawks all-star forward will not play in back-to-back games against the Bulls on Tuesday and the Celtics on Wednesday, according to coach Mike Budenholzer.
So much for the Hawks catching a break on the injury front.
Millsap was injured in Friday’s loss to Detroit when he banged knees with a Pistons player. He returned to the game but experienced swelling on the flight home. He missed Saturday’s win over the Knicks with the injury. An MRI exam was negative.
Millsap did not participate in Hawks practice Monday, instead lifting weights on the side. There is no timetable for his return beyond the next two games. The Hawks do not play for three days following the Celtics game before departing on a five-game, 10-day West Coast trip that begins Sunday in Phoenix.
Centers Pero Antic (right ankle) and Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder) also did not practice. The Hawks will have Elton Brand and newly signed Dexter Pittman at center. Brand, the 15-year veteran, has played 135 minutes in the past four games, including a season-high 43 minutes against the Knicks.
Without Millsap, Budenholzer used Mike Scott at center for brief stretches. The addition of Pittman may help against a big and physical Bulls team.
“Hopefully Dexter can help us,” Budenholzer said. “If there is an opportunity to throw him out there, we will.”
Interest in Muscala: According to a report by the website HoopsHype, the Hawks recently inquired about Mike Muscala, their second-round draft pick who is playing in Spain.
The 7-foot center signed with Blusens Monbus Obradoiro of the ACB League last summer to continue his development. Muscala, who played collegiately at Bucknell, was acquired by the Hawks with the 44th pick, via a trade with the Mavericks, in the 2013 NBA draft. Atlanta continues to hold his NBA rights. The Hawks would be interested in negotiating the release of Muscala’s contract, believed to be a one-year deal, most likely via a buyout. No deal is imminent, according to the report.
The ACB League regular season runs until the end of May with the top eight teams advancing to the playoffs. Monbus Obradoiro is currently 10th in the standings with a 9-11 record.
Hawks general manger Danny Ferry recently said the team would explore all of its options in adding to a roster beset by injury, especially at the center position.
“Obviously we need to continue to build and add to what we are doing both from the depth of how we play and the depth of our roster,” Ferry said after the trade deadline. “We will continue to do so, whether it’s free agency, D-League players or international players this year. But also as we look at the summer and the draft and free agency this summer, we’ll have the opportunity to explore all of those things. We have many paths and many options opened to us to continue to build and grow our program.”
Muscala is having an impressive season with Monbus Obradoiro. He leads the ACB League in rebounding (7.8) and is seventh in scoring (14.6).
Aggressive Teague: Point guard Jeff Teague was especially aggressive getting into the paint in the Hawks' 107-98 win over the Knicks. Teague finished with 28 points, his third-highest total of the season, doing so on a sprained left ankle.
His aggressiveness was not a coincidence. Teague said assistant coaches Darvin Ham and Quin Snyder told him to not be passive with the ball.
“I wanted to come out and be aggressive,” Teague said. “I haven’t been like that lately so you are going to see it from now on. I’m going to be aggressive and try to get things going in the paint.”
Teague was 7-of-12 from the field goals and 13-of-15 from the free throw line against the Knicks.
About Collins: Teague is one of two Hawks players, along with Al Horford, who were teammates with Jason Collins when he played in Atlanta. Collins became the first openly gay athlete to compete in one of the four major professional sports when he appeared for the Nets Sunday after signing a 10-day contract.
“He was always a great teammate,” Teague said. “He is going to give his best every night. He is going to play hard. He is a great locker room guy. I’m happy that he got picked up. He’s a great player. … I don’t worry about (Collins being gay). I don’t judge sexuality. He is a great person, a great guy and I enjoyed being around him.”
Collins played for the Hawks for three seasons (2009-2012).
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