Filling out the Atlanta Hawks’ report card for their defeat of the Brooklyn Nets, 141-118.
The two teams came out firing offensively, combining for 35 points halfway through the first period. After failing to to keep up with the Nets for a bit, the bench players went on a 9-0 run to cut it back to two. Brooklyn lead 36-29 going into the second quarter.
Like they did a few nights ago, the Hawks turned to a zone defense after a rough start defensively, and it once again worked for the most part. We’ll have to see if Lloyd Pierce turns to the zone as more of a foundational piece rather than a mid-game adjustment.
The Hawks went on a overall 24-7 run in the second to take and grow the lead. They out-scored the Nets 39-26 to take a six point lead to the half. The Hawks tough defense didn’t continue early on in the second half, but they kept pace offensively to keep the lead around ten. They followed up their 39 second quarter points with 40 in the third.
Brooklyn’s offense just simply fell apart in the final quarter, and while the Hawks didn’t do anything too special to close the game out, they didn’t need to with the Nets struggling.
The Hawks move to 18-43, while the Nets lose their third straight, dropping to 26-32 as they hold on for dear life to the 8th seed.
It was one of the Hawks best games of the season, and most of the following grades will be pretty favorable.