The Atlanta Hawks are healthy and hosting the Clippers this time
The Atlanta Hawks (31-34) played with fire once against the Los Angeles Clippers, their opponent on Friday, and got burned. Back-to-back losses to the Detroit Pistons and then Milwaukee Bucks – for many of the same reasons – have them still fighting to hold onto the 10-seed in the Eastern Conference.
They shot 28.9 percent from three-point range against the Bucks and Pistons to send their record to 2-11 in games that they shoot below 30.0 percent from outside.
Both contests came on the road where the Hawks are just 12-21 this year.
That included the first meeting with the Clippers as Atlanta shot just 26.9 percent from long distance. Los Angeles shot 36.4 percent while Amir Coffee 5-of-8 threes on his way to 21 points and the victory.
The Atlanta Hawks hope health makes the difference versus the Clippers
Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter missed that first meeting leading to the Clippers going 25-of-35 in the paint; 9-of-14 in the restricted area. Despite holding Los Angeles to 3-of-15 from beyond the arc in the second half, the Hawks got outscored 47-40 thanks to a 27-20 third quarter.
The Hawks came out sluggish in that one getting outscored 31-23 in the first 12 minutes.
Trae Young (19 points, seven assists, two steals) and Kevin Huerter (11 points, two rebounds, two, assist, one steal, one block) combined to shoot 36.3 percent overall and 2-of-12 from downtown.
John Collins had a quiet nine points but that was still better than his effort in the loss to Milwaukee.
Bogdan Bogdanovic had 19 points on 50.0 percent shooting (37.5% 3P) while Onyeka Okongwu came close to a double-double with nine points and 10 boards with a pair of assists.
Seeing as how both slow starts and an over-reliance on the long-ball offensively have played parts in the last two losses, this game provides yet another opportunity for the Hawks to prove they are more like the team we saw during last year’s playoffs than this current version.
Their net rating jumps from plus-0.3 to plus-1.7 with Capela and Hunter on the floor.
That won’t be enough to make up the difference from that 106-93 loss but, hopefully, being at home will. The Hawks lead the league shooting 38.4 percent from three within the friendly confines of State Farm Arena.
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Since the new year, they’re shooting an even better 39.4 percent at home since Jan 1 but find themselves behind the scorching hot…Clippers.
On the road, Los Angeles is less threatening but they still connect on 35.7 percent of their long-range looks and we already know they can get hot.
They are 5-5 in their last 10 on the road while the Hawks have gone 8-2 in their last 10 at home. The factors working in the Hawks favor are mounting and that is before getting the Clippers being without trade deadline acquisitions Robert Covington and Norman Powell.
They haven’t had Kawhi Leonard all season and haven’t had Paul George since Dec 22.
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The Clippers have gone 19-18 since losing George, or, just slightly better than the Hawks who have gone 17-19 in that span. They come in having won six of his last eight and eight of their last 11 while the Hawks have lost three of their last five games and six of their last 11.