The Atlanta Hawks opened up their Summer League schedule with a 105-98 comeback win over the Miami Heat on Friday afternoon at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The team’s rookie first-round pick, Asa Newell, opened the scoring with a three-pointer from the right wing. He notched 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists in 26 minutes of play, flashing his potential as an NBA rotation contributor.
Atlanta held a lead throughout much of the first half, and were up by as much as eight points early. However, Miami’s 24-16 advantage in the 3rd quarter gave them an 8-point lead that seemed decisive.
That’s when the Hawks caught fire.
Kobe Bufkin captained the comeback with a scoring outburst
Atlanta exploded for 37 4th-quarter points, outscoring Miami 37-22. They erased the deficit with a barrage of points off of turnovers and fierce drives to the basket. The Hawks scored 28 of the game’s final 37 points.
At the forefront of that movement was 21-year-old guard Kobe Bufkin. The former Michigan Wolverine was the bright spot of the day for the Hawks, win or lose. His 29 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, along with a 15-for-15 day at the foul line, engineered this win. 17 of those points came in the final quarter.
Despite only playing in ten games for the parent club last season, the No. 15 pick in the 2023 draft looked like he was too good for Summer League. The playmaking and court vision that he displayed felt like that of a seasoned veteran.
It’s only one game – and one summer league game, at that – but Hawks fans should be excited about Bufkin’s potential. It’s no secret that Atlanta could still be searching for a backup point guard behind Trae Young, and Bufkin could potentially fill that role.
Another Hawk who contributed to the victory was two-way signing Jacob Toppin, who finished as a team-high plus-21 during his 27 minutes. Toppin's 19 points and 10 rebounds on a sharp 7-for-13 from the field might go unnoticed due to Bufkin’s heroics, but the 25-year-old deserves credit for a strong performance.
Adam Flagler and Eli John N’Diaye chipped in 12 points apiece off of the bench, but none of those points were as impactful as N’Diaye’s final three. The recent signing from Real Madrid laced a triple from the right corner with just under 90 seconds remaining. Miami’s defense had collapsed to help on Asa Newell before Bufkin found N’Diaye to make them pay. Atlanta held on to earn their first victory of their Summer League schedule.
The Hawks will take the court again on Sunday when they take on the Phoenix Suns at 3:30 p.m. at Cox Pavilion. Phoenix takes on Washington at 6:00 p.m. Friday in their own summer opener.