Hawks vs Warriors: Game Thread – Paul Millsap Returns

Jan 22, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks power forward Paul Millsap (4) celebrates drawing a foul with shooting guard Kyle Korver (26) as they beat the Orlando Magic 112-109 at Amway Center. Millsap had a team-high 24 points. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview

The Atlanta Hawks have been in a deep funk, losing eight straight road games and 12 of their last 13 overall, but get a much-needed lift tonight in a tough game against the Warriors as All-Star power forward Paul Millsap will return from a five-game absence.

Millsap hasn’t played since February 21, when he suffered a right knee contusion at Detroit against the Pistons.

The first time All-Star is averaging 17.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks — he’s the only player in the NBA this season averaging at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks.

This is the final game of a two-game series between Atlanta and Golden State. The Warriors won the first meeting of the year thanks to an Andre Iguodala 3-point buzzer-beater to stun the Hawks in Philips Arena on January 3.

Click here for the full game preview.

Quick Facts

Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Golden State Warriors

What?: Third game of 5-game West Coast road trip (Game #60, Road Game #32)

Where?: Oracle Arena (Oakland, CA)

When?: Friday, March 7, 2014 – 10:30 PM (ET)

How?: SportSouth HD TV / 92.9 FM

Probable Starters

Atlanta Hawks:

PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Kyle Korver | SF: DeMarre Carroll | PF: Paul Millsap | C: Elton Brand

Golden State Warriors:

PG: Stephen Curry | SG: Klay Thompson | SF: Andrew Iguodala | PF: David Lee | C: Andrew Bogut

Injury Report

Atlanta Hawks: Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder surgery), Al Horford (right pectoral muscle surgery) and John Jenkins (lower back surgery) are out.

Golden State Warriors: Festus Ezeli (recovery from right knee surgery) is out.

Current Records, Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold

Records: Atlanta Hawks (26-33) / Golden State Warriors (38-24)

Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Lost 4 | HOME: Lost 1 | ROAD: Lost 8              Golden State Warriors –> OVERALL: Won 2 | HOME: Won 2 | ROAD: Won 2

Home/Away Records: Warriors are (18-10) at home / Hawks are (9-22) on the road.

Atlanta Hawks: Ice Cold. The Hawks have lost eight straight road games, and 12 of their last 13 overall, free falling from 3rd place in the (L)east conference to 8th.

Golden State Warriors: Hot. The Warriors have a two-game winning streak going, and have won 6 of their last 8 overall

Series Notes/Past Series Notes

Atlanta travels to Golden State for the only time this season to close the two-game series. The Warriors won at Philips Arena on 1/3 (101-100) via a buzzer-beater by Andre Iguodala. Pero Antic led six Hawks in double-figures with 16 points. David Lee scored 23 points to lead three Warriors who scored at least 20 points. Golden State owns a four-game winning streak in the series, including the last time the teams met in at Oracle Arena (11/14/12). Atlanta’s last victory against the Warriors was a road triumph on 2/25/11 (95-79). Atlanta leads the all-time series 141-138 (44-75 at Golden State).

LAST MEETING — WARRIORS 101, HAWKS 100 — ATLANTA, GA — 1/3/14

Andre Iguodala’s three-pointer at the buzzer won it as Golden State rallied from a 15-point fourth quarter deficit. A tightly contested first half ended with the teams deadlocked at 46. The Hawks moved in front 72-64 after three and pushed the lead to 91-76 with under seven minutes to play in the final stanza. A 20-4 Warriors run over the next five minutes put the visitors back on top with just over two minutes showing on the clock but Atlanta answered with a 5-0 spurt to regain the advantage. Stephen Curry made it 100-98 with a short runner and Paul Millsap missed a jumper setting up Iguodala’s heroics. Pero Antic, making his first career start, led Atlanta with 16 points (career-best 4-6 3FGs) and seven rebounds. Shelvin Mack scored 15 and Jeff Teague 14 (with seven assists), while Paul Millsap (11 rebounds), DeMarre Carroll and Mike Scott all had 12. David Lee (23), Curry (22) and Klay Thompson (21) combined for 66 points for Golden State.

Common Threads

Cartier Martin played 10 games for Golden State in 2009-10. Jordan Crawford played in 16 games in a Hawks uniform as a rookie in 2010-11. Al Horford played with both David Lee and Marreese Speights at the University of Florida. John Jenkins and Festus Ezeli were collegiate teammates at Vanderbilt. Andre Iguodala was teammates with Elton Brand (2008-12), Kyle Korver (2004-05 through part of 2007-08) and Lou Williams (2005-12) in Philadelphia. Speights teamed with Brand and Williams in Philadelphia from 2008-09 through 2010-11.

—

Information was used from the Hawks and Warriors official gamenotes

Don’t forget to “Like” the Soaring Down South Facebook page and “Follow” us on Twitter @SoaringDwnSouth to get up-to-date Atlanta Hawks/NBA news, rumors and analysis conveniently in your news feeds.