Hawks vs Jazz: Game Thread – Millsap Returns to Utah, Teague (ear) Will Start
By David Menze
Paul Millsap drives around Gordon Hayward for the bucket. Millsap had a double-double in the Hawks’ win with 14 points and 10 boards. (Scott Cunningham/Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/NBA)
Game Preview
Thankfully for the slumping Atlanta Hawks, and their suffering fans, the team’s nightmarish five-game West Coast road trip wraps up tonight in Utah.
The Hawks are 0-4 on the road trip with losses at Phoenix, Portland, Golden State and Los Angeles (Clippers) — all of which are currently projected to make the playoffs in the daunting Western Conference.
Hopefully this is the game that ends the futile streak for the Hawks as there added motivation tonight against the equally-underachieving Utah Jazz.
Eighth-year veteran power forward Paul Millsap will be making his first return back to Utah, where he spent his first seven years, since leaving this past summer as a free agent and signing with Atlanta.
In other Hawks-related news, Jeff Teague will start tonight at point guard despite missing shoootaround today with an ear issue.
Click here for the full game preview.
Quick Facts
Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Utah Jazz
What?: Final game of 5-game West Coast road trip (Game #62, Road Game #34)
Where?: EnergySolutions Arena (Salt Lake City, UT)
When?: Monday, March 10, 2014 – 9:00 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: Pero Antic
Utah Jazz:
PG: Trey Burke | SG: Gordon Hayward | SF: Richard Jefferson | PF: Marvin Williams | C: Derrick Favors
Injury Report
Atlanta Hawks: Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder surgery), Al Horford (right pectoral muscle surgery) and John Jenkins (lower back surgery) are out.
Utah Jazz: None.
Current Records, Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold
Records: Atlanta Hawks (26-35) / Utah Jazz (22-41)
Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Lost 6 | HOME: Lost 1 | ROAD: Lost 10 Utah Jazz –> OVERALL: Won 1 | HOME: Won 2 | ROAD: Won 1
Home/Away Records: Jazz are (14-16) at home / Hawks are (9-24) on the road.
Atlanta Hawks: Ice Cold. The Hawks have lost 10 straight road games, and 14 of their last 15 overall, free falling from 3rd place in the (L)east conference to 8th.
Utah Jazz: Cold. The Jazz are coming off a win Saturday night at Philadelphia but had lost the previous five straight before that.
Series Notes/Past Series Notes
The Hawks visit the Jazz for the only time this season in the second-of-two contests between the teams. Atlanta defeated Utah for the fifth straight time on 12/20, winning 118-85 at Philips Arena. The Jazz last defeated the Hawks on 11/12/10 (90-86) in Atlanta. Utah’s last home victory (lost three straight) came on 2/23/09 (108-89). The Jazz lead the all-time series 48-44, including a 31-13 home record.
LAST MEETING — HAWKS 118, JAZZ 85 — ATLANTA, GA — 12/20/13
The Hawks jumped on Utah early and never let up, leading from start to finish, in a 118-85 home win. All 12 Hawks that suited up made at least one basket and handed out at least one assist. A 16-6 run in the second quarter helped Atlanta take 55-34 lead to the break. The advantage ballooned to as-many-as-31 in the third quarter and 33 in the fourth as the Hawks cruised to the win. Lou Williams came off the bench to score 25 points (career-high-tying 6-10 3FGs) for the home team and Al Horford tallied 23 (11-15 FGs). Paul Millsap (14 points/10 rebounds) had a double-double and Mike Scott chipped-in 11 points. Enes Kanter posted 13 points and 13 boards off the bench for the Jazz. Atlanta shot .523 FG%, hit 10-26 3FGs (.385) and dished out 32 assists, while Utah made .372 FG% and 3-18 from distance (.167). The Hawks had advantages of 28-14 in fast break points and 16-7 in points off turnovers.
Common Threads
DeMarre Carroll, (part of 2011-12 through 2012-13), Kyle Korver (part of 2007-08-through-2010) and Paul Millsap (2006-13) are all former players for Utah. Cartier Martin and Andris Biedrins were teammates with Golden State for part of 2009-10. Shelvin Mack and Gordon Hayward were teammates at Butler University from 2008-09 through 2009-10. Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer coached Richard Jefferson as an Assistant with the Spurs (2009-10 through part of 2011-12). Tyrone Corbin had a couple different stints with the Hawks, playing in 277 regular season games for Atlanta between 1994-99. Utah Assistant Sidney Lowe played 15 games for Atlanta in 1984-85. Marvin Williams played in 487 games for the Hawks from 2005-12. Derrick Favors played his college ball at Georgia Tech, and is an Atlanta native (South Atlanta HS).
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Information was used from the Hawks and Jazz official gamenotes
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