Hawks vs. Bulls Highlights: Prince, Muscala Log Career-Highs

Though the Atlanta Hawks fell to the Chicago Bulls in a shootout at Philips Arena, there were plenty of positive takeaways from the game – as well as a fair share of highlights (such as this spectacular alley-oop jam from John Collins):

Hawks fans haven’t had a whole lot to cheer about this season, and with the news coming down that likable face of the franchise Kent Bazemore will be out for the rest of the season, that trend doesn’t look as if it will improve anytime soon.

However, anyone who is watching the Hawks must know that they are witnessing the blossoming of a talented player: Taurean Prince.

Sure, John Collins has been great in a limited role (as his Player Efficiency Rating of 19.1 would indicate) and Tyler Dorsey’s deadeye shooting remains an impressive precursor for his future, but it has been Prince who has shouldered a heavy burden on the offensive end for Atlanta.

Prince has rewarded the franchise with that faith by delivering career-highs on three separate occasions this season: He dropped 30 on the Raptors in December, 31 vs. the Celtics in February, and finally, his crowning achievement, a 38-point, 7-assist, 6-rebound masterclass against the Bulls on Sunday. That’s not even mentioning his game-winning three against the Phoenix Suns last Sunday.

TP was molten from distance, drilling 7 of 13 from deep (both career-highs) in 35 minutes. Prince was on another level against Chicago, and he was playing with a level of confidence heretofore unseen by the second-year player.

The Prince That Was Promised managed to log those 38 points on only 18 shooting possessions – mainly due to another career-high number: 9 of 10 from the free throw line.

Taurean was extremely aggressive driving to the basket, and with the Bulls similarly in full-on tank mode, they were offering only minor resistance to Prince as he sliced and diced his way to the rim.

When he wasn’t getting fouled, Prince showed stellar instincts by finding open shooters for threes or for roll man rumbling down the lane, such as Dewayne Dedmon in this example:

Prince was truly spectacular in this spot, and this was clearly his best game as a professional basketball player. If he can conjure up this same level of efficiency with less touches, then the Hawks might have a tremendous player on their hands for years to come.

Even if he can’t curtail his need to have the ball in his hands, that might play to Coach Mike Budenholzer’s strengths, and if the Hawks are able to land a bevy of young wings in the draft, Prince could prove to be a leader going forward for this team.

Lifetime Hawk Mike Muscala also had a great game against the Bulls.

Muscala finished the game with a career-high 19 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the field, including career-highs in both three-point makes and attempts (5 and 6 respectively).

When Musky is feeling it, he provides the Hawks with a prototypical stretch five – something that’s of the utmost importance in today’s three-pointer-happy NBA landscape.

With Muscala and Prince combining for an insanely efficient 12 of 19 from downtown, this was a game you’d think the Hawks might be able to pull out. That was not to be, however, as their defense failed them – allowing 129 points and seven double-digit scorers on the Bulls as well as 21-point performances from Bobby Portis and Zach LaVine.

Next: Atlanta Hawks Final 20 Games Predictions

The Hawks return to action tomorrow against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST.