Atlanta Hawks Fall in Boston Without Bud, 106-93

The Atlanta Hawks lose their first road game of 2015-16 on Friday. Atlanta was without HC Mike Budenholzer due to a family emergency. Atlanta lost 106-93.

Your Atlanta Hawks will not go 41-0 away from Philips Arena this season, as the team lost its first road game of 2015-16, falling in the TD Garden to rival Boston, 106-93. The Atlanta Hawks did not have HC Mike Budenholzer tonight, as he stayed back in Atlanta due to a family emergency. Top Assistant Kenny Atkinson filled in for Coach Bud in tonight’s loss.

Atlanta seemed to run out of gas in the second half. It’s understandable since this was the Atlanta Hawks’ 11th game of the year and only the 8th on the season for the Boston Celtics. I’ll give Boston credit for playing a very physical game down low. They are a tremendously well-coached team by HC Brad Stevens and I expect Boston to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs again in 2016. The type of game they played tonight illustrates that they are one of the eight best teams in the Eastern Conference.

-= Related: Atlanta Hawks: Eastern Conference Power Rankings, Nov. 12 =-

The rebounding for the Hawks was a major concern tonight, as the Celtics clobbered Atlanta on the glass, 60-47. Though the Atlanta Hawks shot better from the field tonight than Boston (47.4% to 40.8%), turnovers were definitely in Boston’s favor (17 to 10).

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The best example of how tonight went for the Atlanta Hawks was the game of Paul Millsap. He had a team high in both points with 14 and rebounds with 8, but turned the basketball over a team high 6 times. Millsap played hard as always, but the physicality down low of the Boston Celtics seemed to irritate him a bit.

Atlanta may have had 6 players in double-digit scoring tonight (Kent Bazemore, Millsap, Al Horford, Kyle Korver, Dennis Schroder and Thabo Sefolosha), but could not contain PG Isaiah Thomas tonight. He had a game high 23 points, a game high 10 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and only 2 personal turnovers. No wonder why he had a game high plus/minus on +23. Though Kelly Olynyk looked impressive with his 15 points off the bench, Thomas seems like the best player on the Boston Celtics and the focal point for their success.

Next: Atlanta Hawks: Most Versatile Front Court in NBA?

The Atlanta Hawks will have tomorrow off before hosting the Utah Jazz on Sunday at 6:00 PM ET. Hopefully the Atlanta Hawks can get back to their winning ways on Sunday against former Top Assistant Quin Snyder who is doing a great job with his young Utah Jazz team. Best wishes to Coach Bud and his family.