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Atlanta Hawks Secure First Win of Season, Defeat Knicks 112-101

By Jonathan Savitske

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The Atlanta Hawks secured their first victory of the 2015-2016 season by defeating the New York Knicks on Thursday by a final score of 112-101.

Thursday’s matchup against New York was a dominant, if sometimes sloppy effort from the Atlanta Hawks, as they controlled the tempo of the game throughout the contest. Jeff Teague led the way for the Hawks with 23 points and 8 assists on 7-12 shooting in 30 minutes. Al Horford added 21 points on 8-18 shooting, including 2 three-pointers — a new skill Horford has added to his repertoire. Thursday’s effort from the Hawks was encouraging, considering how their lackluster against Detroit on Tuesday had many fans concerned.

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Jeff Teague was the star for the Atlanta Hawks against the Knicks on Thursday. He had no trouble getting to the basket, and was adept at finishing at the rim. Teague also added 9 points from the free-throw line in 10 attempts. Though his three-point shot was off, as long as Teague can get to the basket and play an effective pick and roll game with his bigs, the Atlanta Hawks are a difficult team to beat.

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The Atlanta Hawks rebounded well after looking listless on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons in the season opener. As team, the Atlanta Hawks shot over 50 percent from the field and got back to playing an unselfish brand of basketball, recording 26 assists on the night.

Kyle Korver was another member of the Atlanta Hawks that had an excellent night. Korver scored 15 points on the night, and has found his shot. The Hawks’ shooting guard shot 6-8 from the field, including 3-5 from long-range. Against Detroit, Korver struggled and looked a step slow, leading to some worry concerning his health. Korver alleviated all concerns on Thursday, making his shots and drawing a significant amount of defensive attention.

Oct 29, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford (15) reacts watching his shot against the New York Knicks during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. The Hawks defeated the Knicks 112-101. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

For the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony led the team with 25 points on Thursday, while Robin Lopez added 18. After falling behind by 22 points at one point in the game, the Knicks trimmed the Atlanta Hawks lead to 12 in the fourth quarter, but the game was too far gone at that point for the home team.

The Knicks also controlled the glass on Thursday, out-rebounding the Atlanta Hawks 48-39. Rebounding continues to plague the Hawks, and is currently their biggest weakness. The Knicks also corralled 16 offensive rebounds, affording them second chance opportunities. Though it was not detrimental to the Atlanta Hawks tonight, against better competition it could spell trouble in the future.

After not playing on Tuesday night against Detroit, Tim Hardaway Jr. was active for tonight’s contest against his former team, but received a DNP-CD against the Knicks. Head Coach Mike Budenholzer played Justin Holiday and Lamar Patterson extensively off the bench instead of Hardaway, spelling Kent Bazemore on the wing. Lamar Patterson played well again for the Hawks, scoring 9 points on 3-5 shooting including 2-3 from three-point range. 

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Lamar Patterson is emerging as a key part of the Atlanta Hawks rotation two games into the season. It’s clear that he fits Mike Budenholzer’s system, and because of the limited minutes afforded to Justin Holiday and the total lack of play from Tim Hardaway Jr. at this point, it seems that Patterson will remain a key part of the rotation. Though it could change at any point given how early the season is, it’s still interesting to see Patterson play despite the fact he was the final player added to the Hawks roster.

We also got our first glimpse of 7’3” rookie Walter Tavares on Thursday. Though he only played limited minutes late in the fourth quarter, he looked active defensively and demonstrated how his size can benefit the Atlanta Hawks this season.

The Atlanta Hawks play the second game of a back-to-back tomorrow evening against the Charlotte Hornets at Philips Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM.

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