Horford Ejected, Hawks Lose 114-111 in OT, Down 3-0

So close. The Atlanta Hawks drop Game 3 in overtime 114-111. I’ll give LeBron James a lot of credit tonight. He carried the Cavs when he was obviously hurt with a game-high 37 points. That’s why he’s The King. That being said, I know that Atlanta will be livid for a very long time about Al Horford’s ejection just before the end of the first half.

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Horford and Matthew Dellavedova both went for a rebound and chaos ensued. It looked like Dellavedova went for Horford’s right knee instead of the ball on that rebound. Knowing that Dellavedova did pretty much the same thing in Game 2 to Kyle Korver, which ended his season, Horford visibly upset struck Dellavedova in the head with his elbow. After much deliberation by the officials and the NBA Replay Center in Secaucus, New Jersey decided that Horford would receive a Flagrant II and an automatic ejection from Game 3. The instigator Dellavedova just got a technical foul. If all was fair in the world, both players would have received a Flagrant I. Of course not, typical Atlanta luck.

Atlanta had to find a way to fight on with Horford’s ejection. Kyle Korver and Thabo Sefolosha were already out for the season. Coach Bud and his players did everything in their power to win this basketball game. And they almost succeeded.

Jeff Teague played out of his mind with a team high 30 points. Atlanta Hawks players don’t score 30 points in a game in Coach Bud’s system. That’s not how it works. It’s happened just twice this year. Jeff Teague was incredible all things considered. He had 7 assists, 6 rebounds and was a perfect 9-9 from the charity stripe. His 3-point attempt to win it all as time expired in the fourth quarter was JUST off.

Paul Millsap 22 points and 9 rebounds in over 45 minutes played. Kent Bazemore had a terrific game filling in for Kyle Korver in the starting lineup with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and all the energy in the world. Shelvin Mack had a great game off the Hawks bench with 13 points and 3 assists.

I don’t like to count moral victories because they mean nothing, but this game was different. To have this much against one team and to nearly do the impossible and win on the road against the league’s marquee player in his building without three of your most important players, I can’t even begin to describe what it would have felt like had the Hawks pulled this one out.

I’m very proud of this team and the effort they played with all night. Against all odds, the Atlanta Hawks went the distance against LeBron James in the Q. Can you even think what could have been if Al Horford played a second of the final two quarters? The Hawks showed the world something tonight. This team is relentless and I truly believe every other team in the Association would have caved under these circumstances. Forever, I love Atlanta. Let’s Go Hawks!

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