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Atlanta Hawks: Rapid Reaction to tough loss to Bucks

By Michael Walton

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 13: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 13, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 13: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 13, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Hawks put up a better effort in their second game against the Bucks the second time around, though they still came up short in a 133-114 loss in Atlanta.

The Hawks came out keeping up with the high-scoring Bucks, only trailing by 3 points after the 1st quarter.

Head coach Lloyd Pierce had preached toughness and offensive rebounding heading into tonight’s game and his squad obliged. They had 8 1st quarter offensive rebounds which led to 9 second chance points, with majority of them coming from Alex Len and the fresh-from-an-18-game absence Taurean Prince.

Dewayne Dedmon didn’t play in this game due to injury/illness, and Len and Omari Spellman filled in capably. Spellman did an excellent job of spacing the floor. He finished the game 4/7 from the 3-point line and ultimately flashed part of what makes him such an intriguing fit with the Hawks long-term.

In his first game back from injury, Prince went for 7 points on  50% shooting in 11 minutes. He struggled when guarding Khris Middleton, getting beat on backdoor cuts. But Prince’s 3-point stroke looks fine and he chipped in 5 rebounds, appearing to be in good shape as he works his way back into the rotation.

And in terms of Atlanta’s top scorers on the night, DeAndre’ Bembry had 18 points, John Collins chipped in a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double but the biggest performance of the night belonged to none other than Trae Young.

Young finished with 26 points on 43.8% shooting and went 11/13 from the free throw line. It was an aggressive display from the minuscule—by NBA standards—Young, who also grabbed a career 10 rebounds, including 3 offensive boards.

On a night where the Hawks were outscored by 10 in the paint and 23 points on the fastbreak, it was nice to see them hang with the Bucks for a stretch before they pulled away. Atlanta had no answer for Giannis Antetkounmpo,Middleton and Brogdon (the trio combined for 71 points, but no one in the league has had an answer for the Bucks when those three get going.

Next. Kevin Huerter Clobbers 76ers, A Breathless Reaction. dark

The Hawks play next on Tuesday, January 15 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 7:30 p.m. EST

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