The Atlanta Hawks are catching a COVID-depleted Hornets team
The Atlanta Hawks are coming off of a tough 98-96 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers that saw them blow a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead. It dropped their record to 8-3 at home and 12-11 overall. Perhaps, given the events just a couple of games before, the best thing to come out of the game was that there were no new serious injuries.
Kevin Huerter did emerge with a sore quad. Meanwhile, Trae Young is still nursing a similar issue in his knee.
Still, the Hawks got off lightly compared to their opponent on Sunday, the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hawks-Hornets game should be a “get-right” opportunity for the home team
Shams Charania reported on Saturday that the Hornets, who are 13-11 and sit two spots above the Hawks in the standings, would be without four players due to entering COVID-19 health & safety protocols that would keep them out several. The list included their starting backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier as well as starting center Mason Plumlee.
That’s their leading scorer, third-leading scorer, and their best rebounder.
Needless to say, the Hawks need to take this opportunity to jump on the Hornets early so they can get Young and Huerter, assuming both of them play, some needed rest with a road contest with the Minnesota Timberwolves on tap for Monday.
In the first meeting between these two teams just over two weeks ago, the Hawks took out the Hornets 115-105.
Cam Reddish and Bogdan Bogdanovic combined for 24 points and seven rebounds while Ball and Rozier combined for 25 points, 15 assists, and 13 boards while Plumlee had just seven points and two rebounds. It is clear who they will miss the most though Miles Bridges did go off for 35 points in the last meeting.
Ultimately, this should be a relatively easy matchup for the Hawks.
One that could serve as a palette cleanser after that rough fourth quarter against Phill in which they scored just nine points on 3-of-20 shooting; just 15 percent. All bets are off if they repeat that performance, of course.
Reading the postgame remarks, that should not be the case.
The potential to get some extra recovery time for the walking wounded in the latte stages should be incentive enough to come out swinging. And, even if it’s not, the chance to make some headway in the standings should do the trick. That is why they play the games, though.
The one concern would be about any positives arising among the Hawks as a result of this game.
Next. Studs and duds from second loss to the 76ers this season. dark
They already lost head coach Nate McMillan for a game after assistant coach Jamelle McMillan tested positive. Reddish is also dealing with an illness. Though it is reportedly not COVID-related.