Five observations from the Hawks’ 92-84 loss to the Timberwolves Wednesday night.
1. The Hawks lost because they scored just 15 fourth-quarter points. They shot 5 of 15 from the field, including 1 of 6 from 3-point range as they were outscored by 10 points. Dennis Schroder had all five of the Hawks' field goals in the final quarter.
Schroder scored on an 18-footer with 5:41 remaining to tie the game at 80-80. From that point, the Hawks managed just four points and one field goal. They went 1 of 8 from the field with two turnovers.
“At times they were pressuring us,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “They were up into us. They made some things difficult. And we just weren’t able to execute. When you do get a good look in that kind of situation, in this kind of game, you’ve got to convert those. Good defense and a couple missed opportunities. We end up with 15 (points). That’s a tough fourth quarter.”
2. Without Dwight Howard for a second straight game due to back tightness, the Hawks went with a small lineup that was successful against the Thunder Monday. Paul Millsap played center, another tall task with the Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns. The Hawks trailed by 10 points just 3:27 into the game. After a timeout, Mike Muscala entered and the Hawks responded with a 14-3 run, including 12 straight points, to get back into the game. Muscala would start the second half and score 11 of the Hawks' first 13 points in the third quarter.
“I don’t think it was just the lineup,” Budenholzer said. “There wasn’t an urgency that you need. We went with Muscala and that put us back in our comfort zone, put us back in things that we were more familiar with.”
Several players in the post-game locker room lamented the lack of energy to start the game.
“We came out very flat,” Kent Bazemore said. “They are a young and explosive team. They came out like they are supposed to. We just didn’t match their energy early on and it cost us.”
3. The Hawks went without a point guard on the floor for long stretches. In fact, backup Malcolm Delaney played just 5:44, all in the second quarter. He did not play in the second half.
Asked after the game whether he was disappointed, Delaney said “very.”
Without Dennis Schroder on the floor, Bazemore did a lot of the ball-handling. Budenholzer said he liked Bazemore getting inside, including a dunk to end the third quarter that gave the Hawks a two-point lead.
“Baze was attacking, getting downhill, getting in the paint,” Budenholzer said. “Defensively, the matchups. Malcolm has been good for us this year. Just went with a different group.”
4. The Hawks have lost three straight games at home. They are 3-3 over the past six games with each win on the road. The Hawks came off an emotional victory at the Thunder while playing short-handed. And as they have several times recently, failed to capitalize on the big win.
“That’s life in the NBA,” Millsap said. “You win an emotional game on the road, a big-time game, and then you come home, play a team that you are supposed to beat and you lose. It’s the NBA. Every night you have to bring that same intensity.”
This was a game the Hawks were in position to win but faltered late. They fell to 7-7 at home. If they are to be a serious playoff contender, the Hawks must be better than a .500 team at home.
“We have to figure out a way to win games, close out games,” Schroder said. “… Coach said the same thing.”
5. The Hawks lost Tim Hardaway Jr. to a right groin injury in the first quarter. The guard played 1:03 after entering the game and had an alley-oop dunk on a pass from Dennis Schroder. He immediately came out of the game and went straight to the locker room. The Hawks called Hardaway's return question. He returned to the bench in the second quarter. However, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game after halftime.
“He wanted to give it a shot but once we got to halftime and he hadn’t played it was probably just wise to not risk it,” Budenholzer said. “Hopefully it’s something that’s not serious.”
Hardaway gave a thumbs up as he left the locker room, a sign he believed the injury was not serious.
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