Big payback & 2 other X-factors as Hawks complete home-&-home with Cavaliers

The Atlanta Hawks know the feeling.

Losing games they were supposed to win has been a theme this season. The Hawks have stolen a couple of those games along the way, and one of the teams they upset – the Cleveland Cavaliers – gets an almost immediate chance to exact their revenge.

Following the holiday, the Hawks will host Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers to complete their home-and-home mini-series.

Hawks must be wary of fired-up Cavaliers

The Hawks handed the Cavaliers just their second loss of the season, and it was Clevelannd’s first defeat at home. So there is not much of a track record on games after a loss to go by. But it is probably safe to say they will be looking to get even.

Atlanta trailed 64-61 at halftime in the first meeting. But a 74-point second half – with 37 points scored in each quarter, no less – secured the 135-124 victory.

Two other key factors worked in the Hawks’ favor in ways they typically have not this season.

First, the Hawks shot 47.6% from beyond the arc. That is their best single-game mark of the season. They are shooting 36.2% from deep as a team on the season. The Hawks’ performance was also against the Cavs’ perimeter defense which is only slightly better.

Second, the Cavaliers entered the first meeting (and this game too, for that matter) with the league’s best efficiency mark from three at 40.8%.

They shot 31.3% against the Hawks on Wednesday, going 9-for-36 on above-the-break looks.

The Cavs’ inefficiency from downtown was a combination of more active perimeter defense from the Hawks. But it was also a fair share of the Cavs missing looks they have generally made this season.

The Hawks should enter this contest confident after what they showed they can do in the first contest. But they must also be alert that the Cavs will do everything to avoid a similar outcome.

Star Donovan Mitchell, like Young, was inefficient. He will most likely be out for blood in this one.

Kobe Bufkin had best game of 2024-25 in 1st meeting with Cavaliers

The Hawks need Kobe Bufkin to come on sooner rather than later to make their youth movement work. While he is not a central part of the vision we have heard the front office has for this team, he can still be a key part of the plan.

Bufkin’s attacking style is similar to Young’s in his willingness to attack the paint. But he currently lacks a consistent change-up, i.e. a jump shot.

Since joining the lineup five games ago, Bufkin is averaging 5.2 points on 34.8% shooting.

His 9 points in the contest are a season-high, and he connected on both of his looks from long distance, marking his first game of the season with multiple triples in a game.

There is more to Bufkin’s game, or at least the Hawks hope there is. He has finished three of his five appearances without a turnover. He just has to stay healthy and on the floor to showcase what he can do.

Hawks must buck ominous trend

The Hawks have a losing record, and it is not much better when searching through their situational splits.

One in particular stands out, though.

The Hawks are 1-3 on the second night of a back-to-back, 2-1 when they have two days of rest between games, and 1-0 when they are coming off a three-day break. However, they are 4-7 with one day of rest in between contests.

Seeing as how that is the most common scenario around the NBA, that is a problem the Hawks must correct.

They can start by taking down the Cavs on Thursday for the second time in three days.