Hawks down Bucks with big help from Mo Gueye

The Hawks’ forward bounced around the court and followed through on his main priority of disrupting the Bucks’ offense.

Gueye got up high to deny a 7-footer a dunk in the first quarter. With 4:38 to play in the first quarter, Gueye tracked Bucks center Brook Lopez on a cut down the middle to the basket. Gueye moved into position and went vertical. He got his entire hand on the ball, stopping a Lopez dunk at point blank.

It was the first of four blocks, including a pair of consecutive denials in the fourth quarter.

“I talked to him a little bit last week and asked him, ‘What position are you?’,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “And he doesn’t have to be a position. His versatility allows him to guard multiple positions. And when he is off the ball in those help situations; he’s long, and I think he’s gotten even more instinct, and he hasn’t had a chance to play for a long period of time until this year.”

2. Gueye put up his first career double-double to go along with his four blocked shots because of his aggressive pursuit of getting to the rim. He scored 15 points, grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds and had two steals, all while committing just one foul.

The 22-year-old has spent much of the season with the Hawks’ G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, playing with them on Thursday night. The Hawks have focused on building a system and have made sure there is carryover with the terminology.

That along with spending time with Hawks assistants Ekpe Udoh and Sanjay Lumpkin, as well as veteran center Larry Nance Jr., has helped Gueye to feel confident using his offensive skills.

“Honestly, I give credit to my teammates,” Gueye said. “They talk to me a lot. Obviously, the Skyhawks, they kind of run different (plays), and having I think, like Larry, Trae (and) all of them talking to me throughout the game, I think that helped me a lot.”

3. The Hawks leaned on Gueye, as well two-way forward/center Dominick Barlow following the trade deadline on Thursday. The Hawks started Barlow in the place of De’Andre Hunter, who they dealt to the Cavs for Caris LeVert, George Niang, three second-round picks and two pick swaps.

Vit Krejci, who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, came off the bench and filled the role of Bogdan Bogdanovic, who the Hawks dealt to the Clippers with three second-round picks for Terance Mann and Bones Hyland.

The Hawks will look to buy out Hyland and the three remaining players acquired did not suit up for Friday’s game. LeVert, Mann and Niang could make their debut on Saturday on the second night of back-to-back games.

4. Dyson Daniels continued to lean into his role as a facilitator. He dished a career-high 10 assists finishing the night with a near triple-double.

He found his teammates in transition, on the bounce, on handoffs and wraparounds to beat defenders. The 21-year-old has gained confidence since the Hawks acquired him in the offseason and Friday’s game proved to be one of his most complete.

5. The Hawks evaluated deals for Clint Capela at the deadline but ultimately decided that the veteran had more value on the team than with another. Capela returned to the Hawks bench after missing the last five games with back spasms, personal reasons or simply not being with the team.

Capela looked to have given a pregame speech in the huddle prior to tipoff as he motivated his teammates in the minutes leading up to the game.

Stat to know

19 - Zaccharie Risacher is the youngest player in franchise history to reach 500 points, 150 rebounds, 50 assists and 50 3-pointers.

Quotable

“For me, I’m gonna keep battling. So I mean if you really are a Hawks fan, I feel like you would keep battling with me and keep battling with this team.” -- Trae Young on his message to Hawks fans through the ups and downs.

Up next

The Hawks play the Wizards in Washington on Saturday.