The Hawks looked like a team that played four games in six days and had to battle without three top rotational players.
They also looked like a team missing two of its top facilitators and they couldn’t generate enough offense, falling to the Clippers 115-92 on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena.
“We were a step slow with a lot of stuff,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “Not able to focus. And when you’re a little fatigued, whatever the case may be, you need to focus more on all the details.”
The Hawks played Wednesday’s action without forward Jalen Johnson, who missed the game with right calf soreness. The team ruled out Johnson just before the game. He joined guard Trae Young (right MCL sprain) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness).
Quick stats: Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks in scoring with 21 points and at one point was the only Hawks scorer with double digit points. Dyson Daniels had 15 points. Hawks rookie Asa Newell had 11 points off the bench.
Turning point
The Hawks fell behind early in the first quarter and fought their way back, trailing by just six at the end of the first 12 minutes.
But then the Hawks, other than Alexander-Walker, couldn’t seem to buy a bucket. The Hawks made just seven of their 22 field goal attempts in the second quarter.
While they managed to score in the third quarter, they gave up too many second-chance opportunities.
Highlight play
With Johnson sidelined on Wednesday, it opened up minutes for Newell. The 20-year-old played hard, hustling up and down the court and fighting for rebounds.
Newell also looked to score, especially with the Hawks struggling to make shots even inside the paint.
With 7:44 to play in the third quarter, Newell pump faked at the top of the key, before driving in on James Harden. He gathered his shot at the elbow, where he drew a foul, before cradling the ball for the layup.
What they said
“We have to do it collectively, the same we’ve done with Jalen. He’s just been a catalyst for that. We had other guys. Dyson was able to get in the lane. Nickeil got in the lane. The issue for us is when we did those things, our spacing isn’t good. So, that doesn’t connect us like we need to.” - Snyder on how the Hawks generate offense without Johnson.
“I think there’s always going to be that period where you have to kind of get through the little muckiness of it and growing into it. And it’s good that it happens now. We all need guys to be able to handle playing in different roles and stepping up.” - Alexander-Walker on playing without three rotational players.
Up next
The Hawks return to the floor Friday. They host Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Nuggets. Murray will be fresh off a 52-point outing in a win over the Pacers on Wednesday.
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