We are up to a five-game losing streak for the Atlanta Hawks following their 110-98 loss to the Utah Jazz. It’s the second time they’ve fallen to Utah and gives them the season series between the two interconference opponents. The loss brings them to 4-8 and quickly losing ground on the top teams in the East.
They came in without the services of both Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter; their third and fifth-leading scorers, respectively.
Yet, even minus the duo’s combined 24.1 points per game, the Hawks kept it close even chipping the deficit down to three points before an onslaught by the Jazz put the game out of reach late.
The Atlanta Hawks lost this game on the boards, in the paint, and the second quarter
This game featured what has become the unfortunate trademark big quarter given up by the Hawks. Unlike previous instances, however, they got off to a good enough start, scoring 28 points on 55 percent shooting and going 4-of-7 from beyond the arc in the first quarter. Kevin Huerter had 12 points in the frame while Trae Young had 10 points and three assists.
The pair shot 9-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-6 from outside.
Atlanta finished strong too in a departure from recent losses. They tied the Jazz in scoring in the second half. Their bane in this matchup was the second quarter.
They let the Jazz shoot 63.2 percent in the frame including 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting between the bench trio of Jordan Clarkson, Eric Paschall, and Hassan Whiteside. They were scarcely heard from again outside of Clarkson hitting two big threes in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks shot 34.8 percent from the floor and both teams went 4-of-9 from three.
Beyond that, the Hawks lost this game in three key areas. They got outrebounded 44-32, gave up two more second-chance points than they scored, were minus-three in transition points, and got beat up in the paint.
The last one is the lopsided as they were outscored 42-34 with Donovan Mitchell healthy. In that second quarter, Atlanta was 4-of-12 on shots inside the paint.
Utah was 7-of-8.
Nate McMillan spoke of his team’s lack of stopping power right now postgame before giving praise to Huerter for his performance.
Nate McMillan liked the competitive spirit in the squad, but he wants a lot more from his defense. pic.twitter.com/9mDNVheGQc
— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) November 10, 2021
In the end, the Hawks got 28 points from Huerter to lead all scorers, 27 points from Young, 13 points with 12 boards from Clint Capela, and 16 points from Cam Reddish, who still came off of the bench despite the injuries to Bogdanovic and Hunter.
Reddish still wound up playing about eight minutes more than Solomon Hill, who drew the start. Though, the latter was one of three Hawks not to finish the game with a negative plus-minus.
Next up is the final game on what has been an unforgiving West Coast tour, a battle with the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Denver should have the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, back from his one-game suspension for his shove of Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. Hopefully, the Hawks can field a healthy lineup as well.