Atlanta Hawks: Rapid Reactions to Hideous Loss to Magic
By Chris Guest
A quick recap of what was one of the worst nights of Atlanta Hawks basketball this season.
With both teams on the second night of a back-to-back, one might’ve expected a rather listless performance from both the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic.
Instead, viewers were greeted by a complete directionless and sleepwalking Hawks team and a feisty and focused Magic team (without Mo Bamba) – who are still trying to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
The Hawks could get nothing going, and the final score line of this game was actually far more respectable (124 to 108) than it had any right to be. Atlanta got vastly outplayed, and even though they actually outshot the Magic from three-point territory (40.6% to 35.1%), where the Hawks got truly outmatched was on the boards.
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With rebounding expert John Collins in the fold, the Atlanta Hawks usually hold their own on the glass, but in this contest, the length and athleticism of the Magic’s frontcourt was too much for the Hawks to handle. By the end of this game, the Hawks had been outrebounded 49 to 33, including an 11 to 5 advantage on the offensive boards.
The Hawks were outscored in each quarter save the 4th and five Magic players scored in double figures, including the leading scorer for the game Nikola Vucevic, who also poured on 12 rebounds.
D.J. Augustin was a stabilizing force for the Magic at the one, and his quiet 14-point, 10-assist double-double was a masterclass in understated, veteran point guard play.
For the Hawks, Trae Young finished with 13 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, Kevin Huerter and Collins added 15 points apiece and Alex Len was the leading scorer for the Hawks off the bench with 16 points in 19 minutes.
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The Atlanta Hawks play next on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:30 p.m. in State Farm Arena.