Blazers vs Hawks: Game Thread – Pero Antic and Kyle Korver Out for Atlanta, LaMarcus Aldridge Returns for Portland

Mar 5, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver (26) drives past Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview

The injuries keep mounting for the already decimated Atlanta Hawks as word came out that starters Pero Antic and Kyle Korver are both inactive for tonight’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Antic suffered a sprained right ankle in Wednesday night’s loss at Minnesota. According to Hawks beat writer Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Antic’s injury occurred when he “stumbled over coach on bench” after he drained a 3-pointer with 2:29 left in the second quarter. He finished out the second quarter and played the first six and a half minutes in the third, but only logged 16 minutes of action overall.

Korver has been out the past week with back spasms. This will be his fifth straight game inactive.

In other injury-related news, Portland’s All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge will return tonight after a seven-game absence due to a lower back contusion.

Click here for the full game preview.

Quick Facts

Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Portland Trail Blazers

What?: East vs West Showdown (Game #71, Home Game #34)

Where?: Philips Arena (Atlanta, GA)

When?: Thursday, March 27, 2014 – 7:30 PM (ET)

How?: SportSouth HD TV & 92.9 FM

Probable Starters

Atlanta Hawks:

PG: Jeff Teague | SG: DeMarre Carroll | SF: Mike Scott | PF: Paul Millsap | C: Elton Brand

Portland Trail Blazers:

PG: Damian Lillard | SG: Wesley Matthews | SF: Nicolas Batum | PF: LaMarcus Aldridge | C: Robin Lopez

Injury Report

Atlanta Hawks: Pero Antic (sprained right ankle), Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder surgery), Al Horford (right pectoral muscle surgery), John Jenkins (lower back surgery) and Kyle Korver (back spasms) are out.

Portland Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge (low back contusion) is questionable. Joel Freeland (right knee sprain) is out.

Current Records, Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold

Records: Atlanta Hawks (31-39) / Portland Trail Blazers (45-27)

Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Lost 4 | HOME: Lost 2 | ROAD: Lost 2                Portland Trail Blazers –> OVERALL: Won 1 | HOME: Won 1 | ROAD: Lost 1

Home/Away Records: Hawks are (20-13) at home / Blazers are (19-18) on the road.

Atlanta Hawks: Cold. The Hawks have lost four straight games and are in danger of falling out of playoff contention.

Portland Trail Blazers: Cold. The Blazers are on a three-game losing streak and just lost to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

Series Notes/Past Series Notes

The Hawks welcome the Trail Blazers to Philips Arena for the only time in the second-and-final contest between the teams this year. Portland won the first matchup at home on 3/5 (102-78). Cartier Martin led Atlanta with a game-high 16 points and team-high tying six rebounds. Nicolas Batum recorded a game-high 18 rebounds to go with 14 points for the Trail Blazers. Portland has won two-in-a-row over Atlanta, including the most recent contest at Philips Arena on 3/22/13 (104-93). The Hawks last defeated the Blazers on 11/12/12 (95-87) in Portland and their most recent home victory came on 1/18/12 (92-89). The Trail Blazers lead the all-time series 52-51, with the Hawks holding a 33-17 edge at home.

LAST MEETING — BLAZERS 102, HAWKS 78 — PORTLAND, OR — 3/5/14

The Hawks welcome the Trail Blazers to Philips Arena for the only time in the second-and-final contest between the teams this year. Portland won the first matchup at home on 3/5 (102-78). Cartier Martin led Atlanta with a game-high 16 points and team-high tying six rebounds. Nicolas Batum recorded a game-high 18 rebounds to go with 14 points for the Trail Blazers. Portland has won two-in-a-row over Atlanta, including the most recent contest at Philips Arena on 3/22/13 (104-93). The Hawks last defeated the Blazers on 11/12/12 (95-87) in Portland and their most recent home victory came on 1/18/12 (92-89). The Trail Blazers lead the all-time series 52-51, with the Hawks holding a 33-17 edge at home.

Common Threads

Terry Stotts was Atlanta’s Head Coach from 2003-04, recording a 52-85 mark, following a stint as a Hawks Assistant Coach. Wesley Matthews’ father Wes played 152 games in a Hawks uniform in different stints between 1980 and 1990. Matthews was teammates with Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap in Utah in 2009-10. Earl Watson teamed with both DeMarre Carroll (part of 2011-12-through-2013) and Paul Millsap (2010-13) in Utah. Mo Williams played with Carroll and Millsap with the Jazz in 2012-13. Shelvin Mack and Dorell Wright played together briefly with Philadelphia in 2012-13. Trail Blazers radio broadcaster Antonio Harvey played four games for Atlanta in 2002-03.

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Information was used from the Hawks and Blazers official gamenotes

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