The Hawks (34-28) suffered more injuries in a deflated 100-86 loss to the Pistons (19-43) Monday in Detroit.
Next up, the Hawks play Wednesday and Friday in Philadelphia.
1. Banged up all season, the one thing the Hawks needed to avoid at all costs was more injuries. But, in a clunker of a loss to Detroit, both wing Kevin Huerter and guard Brandon Goodwin were hurt in the fourth quarter. Huerter sprained his left shoulder, the Hawks announced later, and Goodwin suffered a left ankle impingement and had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair. Huerter will undergo an MRI Tuesday. X-rays for Goodwin’s ankle were negative.
Goodwin tweeted after the game, “Ankle good. Off game.”
2. Coming off the two best wins of the season — nabbing the tiebreaker over the Heat Friday and exploding in the fourth quarter Sunday to take down No. 3 Milwaukee — the Hawks fell right into a trap game against the Pistons, who were in the Eastern Conference basement entering Monday’s game.
The Hawks looked worn out, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, and just couldn’t establish a rhythm.
This is a disappointing loss, as the Hawks. who remain tied with the Knicks at No. 4 in the East (though New York holds the tiebreaker), need to check off every winnable game possible, as they jockey for position in the standings.
Credit: Duane Burleson
Credit: Duane Burleson
3. Offensively, it was just one of those nights where nothing went right.
Shooting a season-low 14.8% from 3-point range (making a season-low four 3-pointers on 27 attempts), the Hawks were held to a season-low 86 points.
They shot 38.8% from the field. The Hawks still are missing their star guard Trae Young, out with a left ankle sprain. But, interim coach Nate McMillan didn’t think it was due to a lack of effort on the Hawks’ part, though he did mention the Hawks were fatigued on the second night of a back-to-back.
“Tonight, (the Pistons) did what I expected them to do, to be very aggressive, crawling into us defensively, making us work, and we had to work for everything that we got,” McMillan said. “They were physical, they knew that we were shorthanded with players, and they started with pressure and continued with that pressure for 48 minutes … I don’t think it was our players’ letdown. I don’t think it was that at all. I thought Detroit just played aggressive, physical basketball on the defensive end of the floor.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic had 17 points, five rebounds and two assists. Huerter added 15 points and two steals. John Collins totaled 14 points and eight rebounds, and Clint Capela had 12 points and 15 rebounds.
4. Until garbage time in the fourth quarter, Danilo Gallinari was the only Hawks player to score off the bench, adding 12 points (2-4 FG, 0-2 from 3, 8-9 FT).
In the final period, rookie center Onyeka Okongwu added six points, and two-way rookie guard Skylar Mays added four points.
Overall, the Hawks’ bench had 22 points to the Pistons’ 44. The Hawks were missing backup guard Lou Williams (flu-like symptoms), which hurt the second unit, in addition to De’Andre Hunter (right knee soreness), Cam Reddish (right Achilles soreness), Tony Snell (right ankle sprain) and Young (left ankle sprain).
Credit: Duane Burleson
Credit: Duane Burleson
5. At long last, Kris Dunn made his debut, giving the injury-plagued Hawks another healthy body to work with for the final stretch of the season.
In free agency, the Hawks signed Dunn to bolster the defense, and although they’ve take a step forward in that category, his absence has been felt in the backcourt.
Dunn, who hadn’t played since Jan. 29, 2020, was operating on a minute restriction, and contributed one steal and one block in 13 minutes. He didn’t score, but that’s not the main thing the Hawks need from him, as a defensive specialist.
Stat of the game
14.8% (or a season-low 4-27, what the Hawks shot from 3-point range)
Star of the game
Frank Jackson (had 18 points off the bench for Detroit, including 10 points in the fourth to keep the Hawks at bay)
Quotable
“It has been that type of year where you’re just holding your breath every time someone hits the floor. For us, what we need to do is get some rest and try to heal up as soon as possible.” (McMillan on the constant stream of injuries for the Hawks this season)
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