ATLANTA _ Despite a strong defensive stand in the final 36 minutes of Friday's game against the Boston Celtics, the Atlanta Hawks extended their losing streak to 10 games.
Going along with a dangerous trend, the Hawks bench produced better than the starters in Friday's 114-96 loss just as they did Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors. For the second straight game, Jeremy Lin led the Hawks in points (19) off the bench while starters like Taurean Prince, who had two early fouls, shot 0-for-7 and made two free throws in 18 minutes. Rookie point guard Trae Young also struggled, going 2-for-7 for five points.
Kent Bazemore also did not make a shot Friday, but was ruled out during halftime after suffering a left ankle sprain in the second quarter. Bazemore left the game limping after tweaking his ankle and initially was expected to return after the ankle was re-taped. He shot around with the Hawks before the second half, but decided the ankle didn't feel strong enough to play on.
John Collins was the only starter who put up decent numbers on offense in his fourth game back from an ankle injury. After leading the Hawks with 11 points (5-for-6) with four rebounds, at halftime and impressing with a big alley-oop off an assist by Young, he finished Friday's loss 7-for-8 for 16 points and seven rebounds.
Led by Lin and 17 points by center Alex Len, the Hawks bench totaled 66 points. The bench made its most obvious impact to counteract the Hawks' lack of offensive success when they went on a 16-2 run with the Hawks down 29 points in the third quarter. Despite the run, the Hawks still struggled to make shots on offense in the third quarter, shooting 5-for-18 from the field, 2-for-8 beyond the arc.
The Hawks (3-16) were never able to catch up offensively after a disastrous first quarter where they allowed 45 points and the Celtics to shoot 64 percent, 8 of 12 beyond the arc.
Due to the Hawks' improved defense as the game progressed, the Celtics (10-9) finished the game shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 32.5 percent beyond the arc.
In the second quarter, the Hawks stepped up defensively, holding Celtics to 4 of 18 from the field and 2 of 9 from the 3-point line for 16 total points, but despite the defensive, the bad news of the second quarter was the Hawks totaled only 22 points, shooting 10-for-24 from the field and 1-for-11 from 3 to trail by 16 at the half.
DeAndre' Bembry gave the Hawks some life in the second quarter. He shot 3-for-5 for six points and had three rebounds and two blocks. He finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Irving, who shot 4-for-6 from the field and 3-for-4 beyond the arc for 11 points in the first quarter, was held to two free throws in the second quarter and finished with 13 points despite averaging 22.4 entering the game. The Celtics, who snapped a three-game losing streak, were led by Aaron Baynes with 16 points and Jayson Tatum with 14 points.
At the half, the Hawks and Celtics shot almost identical numbers from the field (.455 and .465, respectively). The only difference was the Celtics' success beyond the arc. Boston was 10-for-21 from the 3-point line in the first half while the Hawks were 2-for-18. The Hawks also struggled at the free throw line Friday, hitting 3-of-8 in the first half.
Having Collins, Dedmon and Len all active after Lin was sidelined with back tightness Wednesday, the Hawks did succeed in the paint offensively and defensively. The Hawks totaled 54 points in the paint compared to the Celtics 42. The Hawks struggled however from the 3-point line, finishing the game 6-for-35.
