Competing with an 11-man roster – with room for a couple of draft picks to eventually join the team - the Hawks were also down two regular players in their Las Vegas Summer League opener Saturday.
The Bucks staged a fourth-quarter rally en route to an 89-83 victory at the Cox Pavilion at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
The Hawks led for all of the first three quarters, from a 9-0 run to start the game, until the Bucks took the lead on a three-point play by Bonzie Colson with 6:56 remaining. The Bucks went on an 8-0 run after the game was tied at 80-80 with 2:57 remaining.
“I knew we were going to be pretty good defensively,” Hawks assistant and summer league coach Greg Foster said. “I knew scoring was going to be tough to come by. For the guys who played, I’m really happy for them.”
Jordan Sibert, who played for the Hawks last season on a 10-day contract, scored a game-high 22 points. Tahjere McCall added 16 points and seven rebounds and Omari Spellman had eight points and eight rebounds. Colson led the Bucks with 18 points.
“I had a good season in Erie (G League last season),” Sibert said. “I got a callup. Now being here in summer league, I just want to take advantage of it.”
The Hawks were without two roster players in Jaylen Adams (sore toe) and two-way player Charlie Brown (sore hip). They are expected to play Sunday when the Hawks play the Timberwolves at 5:30 p.m.
“Defense for sure,” McCall said of his opportunity with the Hawks missing players. “I kind of have fun playing defense. I look forward to it. I know that sounds kind of weird nowadays but that’s what I look forward to.”
Without Adams and Brown, the Hawks started a lineup of Matt Mooney, Sibert, McCall, Spellman and Nick Ward.
The Hawks will eventually have draftees De’Andre Hunter and Bruno Fernando once those pending trades become official. They were not completed in time for Saturday’s game despite the end of the NBA’s moratorium period.
The Hawks had several players courtside to see the team’s summer league debut in John Collins, Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and Chandler Parsons.
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