Atlanta Hawks studs and duds from encouraging win over the 76ers

Atlanta Hawks dud from encouraging win: It wasn’t the best of debuts for one wing player

Wesley Iwundu joined the Hawks as one of three players on hardship exemptions. The Hawks are dealing with a number of players out due to either injury or (mostly) health and safety protocols including Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, to whom Iwundu compared favorably.

His first game in a Hawks uniform was anything but encouraging as he went just 1-of-5 from the floor, finishing with just two points. He did grab five rebounds and had just one turnover and two personal fouls in over 23 minutes.

Iwundu also had a rather mediocre showing on the defensive end.

His assignments go 5-for-10. Harris, Embiid, and Seth Curry did combine to go 0-for-5 against him, the former two in limited minutes.

However, Maxey and Matisse Thybulle combined to go 4-for-4 overall and 1-for-1 from downtown for nine points. The former Magic and Dallas Mavericks guard finished a team-worst minus-nine.

Of course, one game shouldn’t make or break a player. If Iwundu continues getting minutes he should grow more comfortable.

We could have gone with rookie Jalen Johnson who, despite playing less than five minutes, was 0-for-1, called for a foul, and drew constructive criticism from Travis Schlenk – who joined the broadcast – for looking for a foul instead of immediately getting back down the floor. Schlenk also noted that Johnson isn’t where he needs to be with his defense just yet.

Johnson was a minus-six.

Johnson will have a chance to have a better showing on Christmas against the Knicks. But Iwundu became the latest to enter health and safety protocols because of course he did.