Hawks vs. Nets Live Notebook

The Hawks and Nets meet for the second time this season on Saturday, this time in Brooklyn at 6:00 on Saturday. The Nets took the first matchup between the two teams, 130-118, in Atlanta. They used 18 offensive rebounds and 20-point efforts from four players to outlast the Hawks, who got 39 points and 10 assists from Trae Young.

For a full analysis of what to expect in Saturday's game, click here.

Pregame

Hawks Starting Lineup Remains the Same

The Hawks will start Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish, De'Andre Hunter, and Bruno Fernando for the second consecutive game, Lloyd Pierce announced before the game. All five players are in their first or second NBA seasons and had played just three minutes together all season prior to Thursday's game against the Jazz.

Hawks will stick with the Baby Hawks starting lineup of Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish, De'Andre Hunter and Bruno Fernando.
— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) December 21, 2019

That unit successfully created a greater sense of urgency against Utah, which has been an issue for Atlanta all season, and has the versatility to defend Brooklyn's small lineup better than the frontcourt of Jabari Parker and Damian Jones.

First Quarter

Fernando Holding Strong Inside

Bruno Fernando has looked good on defense early, protecting the rim aggressively and under control. He's made a couple of nice verticality plays to contest layup attempts (one of which was called for a foul on Jarrett Allen) and stayed in position with his head on a swivel in help.

Fernando still has a long way to go to become a real defensive anchor, but he's flashed some solid instincts even amid frequent mental lapses, and has the tools to defend multiple positions well. Moving into the starting lineup should help his development, even if Fernando has some struggles along the way. So far tonight, he has been as solid as Atlanta could hope.

Hawks Offense Flowing Quickly

Atlanta may have found some offensive synergy with its new starting five. The ball and players seem to move more fluidly with four wings on the court, and the Hawks make unselfish, connective plays to keep the offense moving without any one player stopping the ball. The operation doesn't feel quite as fluid with Parker, Alex Len, or Damian Jones on the floor.

Nets lead 22-20.

How Will Brooklyn's Run Affect Atlanta's Energy?

The Nets made a 15-0 spurt after an initial 18-7 Hawks run to get back in front, and Atlanta hasn't played with as much life over the last few minutes as it did in the opening five. The team's response over last three minutes of the first period will be an important indicator for whether the Hawks punch back or surrender to Brooklyn's aggression.

Nets lead 27-25.

Nets Suffering Inside Without Allen

The Hawks were far more successful attacking the rim in the first quarter after DeAndre Jordan replaced Jarrett Allen. The latter is a lively, athletic rim protector while the former doesn't challenge shots nearly as effectively as he did earlier in his career. Jordan would prefer to stay grounded and snatch defensive rebounds than leave his feet to challenge layups, and Atlanta is taking advantage of his immobility.

Absent a great rim protector to deter them inside, the Hawks have looked far more comfortable shooting around the rim, which was a big reason they managed to even up the game late in the first quarter.

Kenny Atkinson deserves credit for sticking with the younger, better center in the starting lineup rather than the veteran, but Brooklyn is discovering just how wide the gap between the two is on defense.

34-34 at the end of the first.

Second Quarter

Carter Continues to Rise in Record Books

Vince Carter's entry into the game at the start of the second quarter was notable for two reasons. Firstly, he passed John Stockton for fourth all-time in games played with 1,505. Secondly, it could represent a shift in the back end of Atlanta's rotation.

Carter did not play on Thursday after being a staple of Lloyd Pierce's rotation for the first 28 games of the season, which Pierce attributed to Evan Turner's superior defensive versatility. Turner has a minor right hamstring strain and was questionable coming into tonight's game, so Carter may just be a stopgap until Turner gets fully healthy. But I'd expect Pierce to toggle between the two for the final spot in the rotation depending on the matchup.

Turner may be more versatile, but Carter's (relative) ability to shoot may be more valuable than the all-around skill set Turner offers. There will be games in which the 42-year-old is simply too slow to defend certain opponents, but he'll be worth keeping in the mix some nights.

Hawks lead 52-45.

Atlanta Controlling the Boards

In an unforeseen development, the Hawks have dominated the glass in the first half, grabbing 80 percent of available defensive boards and over 40 percent of their own misses. Alex Len has nine rebounds off the bench while Fernando has grabbled five in seven minutes. Both have done yeoman's work boxing out DeAndre Jordan and Jarrett Allen.

Atlanta struggled mightily on the glass the first time it played Brooklyn and has been the worst defensive rebounding team in the NBA to date. This half is an aberration in a trend that will most likely continue, but it flips a key advantage the Nets should have in this game. For a team that hasn't won a game in nearly two weeks, that's enough.

Atlanta leads 60-49.

The Wise Work of Trae Young

I've liked the way Young has picked his spots in the first half. He has 24 points and hasn't forced shots in the same way he has in other-high scoring but relatively inefficient, games this season. His six assists have all been well-earned, and he has but two turnovers. Seven free-throw attempts have helped boost his efficiency as well.

The flow of Atlanta's offense has allowed him to work off the ball at times, and he has been excellent probing to the rim out of the pick-and-roll. His teammates have shot the ball well, which has given Young openings he doesn't often have in the halfcourt.

As a result of Young's brilliance and Atlanta's all-around effort, the Hawks scored a season-high 73 points and nearly 1.4 points per possession in the first half.

Atlanta leads 73-60.

Trae Young had 24 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in the first half. pic.twitter.com/RTOP8DLJIJ
— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) December 22, 2019

Third Quarter

Shooting Variance Keeping Hawks In Front

Atlanta has benefitted from some poor shooting from Brooklyn to start the third as the Nets have missed a few layups, two floaters, and a couple of open 3s that could have trimmed the margin to single digits, and Jarrett Allen missed a big tomahawk dunk a point-blank range. The Hawks, by contrast, have hit a few difficult shots around the rim and hit most of their open looks. Credit them for making Brooklyn feel them on defense, but a couple of nicer rolls would paint a slightly different picture of the game.

Meanwhile, the officials have been quick with the technical fouls in this one, handing out four T's with 7:37 still to play in the third quarter.

Hawks lead 85-69.

Hawks Stay Even in Third Despite Nets Push

The Nets discovered some offensive verve midway through the third quarter, but the Hawks did well to keep the lead at 13 entering the fourth. They closed the frame on an 8-0 run to quell the Nets' push and close some of the gaps the Nets had exploited.

That stretch could prove significant should the game become close down the stretch. Weathering storms like that has been difficult for Atlanta this season, as resolve has given way to indecision and frustration. The Hawks will enter the fourth with a double-digit lead. These are games they should close out.

Fourth Quarter

Len Anchoring Atlanta

Alex Len has been central to Atlanta's efforts tonight with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks off the bench. His ability to keep Jordan and Allen at bay on the glass has helped Atlanta to a 49-48 edge in that area, and has helped the Hawks hold Brooklyn to 63 percent shooting at the rim.

Fernando, who has played reasonably well in 17 minutes, checked out of the game with 7:45 to play, and it will likely be Len's game to finish.

Hawks lead 100-99.

Brooklyn Jumps In Front With 23-4 Push

Atlanta is headed for an epic collapse if it doesn't rediscover some of its offensive rhythm and buckle down in the paint. Spencer Dinwiddie has begun to find some seams in the fourth while the Hawks haven't generated the same quality of shots they did in the first half.

Dinwiddie has scored 33 points on 11-of-24 shooting, while Garrett Temple -- who scored 27 against the Hawks earlier this month -- has 25. Brooklyn is forcing Atlanta's defense to scramble and producing open looks as a result. Dinwiddie just rushed down the floor in transition and found Joe Harris in the corner for 3, forcing a Hawks timeout.

Nets lead 110-104.

Hawks Missing Opportunities Late

Potentially huge swing under two minutes to play as De'Andre Hunter deflects Dinwiddie's entry pass, Huerter recovers, and Reddish runs into Huerter on his way back down the floor. Joe Harris recovered the loose ball and powered a layup through Kevin Huerter's attempt to foul him. And-one.

The run came minutes after Reddish ignored Hunter and Young spotting up for 3 in transition, then had the ball stripped. Brooklyn couldn't capitalize on the other end, but it cost the Hawks a chance to take the lead after Young made a layup on the next possession.

Nets lead 116-110.

Hawks Fall Short,

Atlanta completes the collapse, falling 123-112. Mental and physical miscues cost the Hawks late as the Nets mounted a 38-14 fourth-quarter run after Atlanta led by 13 entering the final period.

After an explosive first 36 minutes, the Hawks finished with a 101.9 offensive rating and 42.8 effective field goal percentage. They held the Nets at bay on the glass for much of the game, but that advantage shifted strongly toward the Nets in the fourth quarter. Brooklyn took 41 shots at the rim to Atlanta's 28, and finished 27 of those looks. Perhaps most damaging of all, the Hawks shot only 23 percent from beyond the arc.

This will be a bitter loss to swallow for the Hawks, who have now lost seven in a row and 21 of their last 24. They will get John Collins back from a 25-game suspension on Monday for what will almost be a must-win game against the struggling Cavaliers.