ATLANTA — Minnesota Lynx middle and WNBA legend Sylvia Fowles made yet one more cease on her retirement tour and this one was particularly particular. Earlier than the sport, the Atlanta Dream introduced Fowles with a pair of Air Pressure Ones and roses.
It was the start of what turned out to be a terrific night time for the Lynx and a foul one for the Dream. The Lynx gained 92-85 on the again of Aerial Powers’ game-high 25 factors on 62.5% capturing whereas Fowles in her closing recreation in Atlanta scored 12 factors and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.
As a crew, Minnesota shot 55.6% from the sphere, together with 64% at one level within the third quarter. This was on the again of 21 assists as a crew and Atlanta head coach Tanisha Wright was very annoyed along with her crew’s shot choice.
“I believed earlier, we received some photographs that have been open and we received some simple seems to be, however all through their run and their streaks, we took very uncharacteristic photographs that contributed to them having the ability to get out and various things like that,” coach Wright mentioned.
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Coach Wright was particularly disenchanted by what she perceived as her crew’s lack of effort. She was annoyed as a result of she all the time tries to instill into her crew a specific amount of competitiveness to deliver to the ground each single recreation and he or she didn’t see that night time.
“Tonight, I can’t eat this,” coach Wright mentioned. “I don’t be ok with this as a result of they didn’t compete and it’s a illustration of me and I constructed my complete profession on competing, so after they appear to be this, I take it very personally.”
That lack of competitiveness described by Wright was summed up in the truth that the Dream shot 38.6% as a crew. Rhyne Howard had 18 factors on 20 photographs and Cheyenne Parker had 16 factors, however she solely took seven photographs. The one environment friendly scorer for Atlanta was Tiffany Hayes, who had 24 factors on 50% capturing.
The Lynx’s lights-out capturing in distinction to the Dream’s poor capturing enabled for the previous to guide 25-16 on the finish of the primary quarter and 49-29 at halftime. The Lynx led by 23 factors at one level, however the Dream managed to go on an 18-8 run to drag inside 10 factors and even made it a 6-point ball recreation at one level.
The Lynx finally managed to drag away and their dominant crew efficiency was capped off by Fowles scoring her final factors in Atlanta on a free throw and within the course of acquired an ovation from the Dream trustworthy. Parker will all the time have fond reminiscences of her taking part in profession.
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“After I was a youthful participant, I used to only watch video games of Sylvia and simply watch how she labored across the paint,” Parker mentioned. “She’s all the time been simply legendary.”
Each groups are presently on the surface trying in because it pertains to the playoff image, because the Dream are presently a No. 9 seed with a 12-17 file and the Lynx are proper behind them at 11-19. If the Dream are going to make the playoffs, they will want extra contributions from gamers like Erica Wheeler, who turned a member of the two,000-point membership on Thursday night time.
“I really like this recreation,” Wheeler mentioned. “This recreation saved my life, so for me, I attempt to give it my all each time…I belong right here. I don’t assume I’ve to show that to anyone, so for me, I simply assume it’s a terrific milestone that reveals my work.”
Atlanta Hawks (21-19, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (29-12, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Celtics -11; over/under is 235
BOTTOM LINE: Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics host Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks in Eastern Conference action.
The Celtics are 23-8 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston ranks eighth in the league with 33.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Tatum averaging 8.6.
The Hawks have gone 14-7 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta has a 10-12 record in games decided by 10 points or more.
The Celtics score 117.6 points per game, 1.5 fewer points than the 119.1 the Hawks allow. The Hawks average 13.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 more makes per game than the Celtics allow.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Tatum is averaging 27.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Celtics.
Young is averaging 23.1 points and 11.9 assists for the Hawks.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 6-4, averaging 111.1 points, 43.5 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 7.4 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.3 points per game.
Hawks: 6-4, averaging 119.5 points, 43.8 rebounds, 29.9 assists, 10.7 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.4 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: None listed.
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Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher: out (thigh), Kobe Bufkin: out for season (shoulder), Trae Young: day to day (rib), Larry Nance Jr.: out (hand), Jalen Johnson: day to day (shoulder), Cody Zeller: out (personal), De’Andre Hunter: day to day (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
ATLANTA (AP) — Ohio State and Notre Dame arrived in Atlanta on charter flights Friday as the teams moved closer to the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday night. The Buckeyes are big favorites but the Fighting Irish might have an advantage. Coach Marcus Freeman’s team has …
Less than one month from today will be the NBA Trade Deadline and there is still some uncertainty as to what will go down at the deadline. Star players like Jimmy Butler and Brandon Ingram have been talked about as players who could be dealt with, but it could end up just being smaller moves and rotation players that get moved. The Atlanta Hawks could actually be a team to watch when it comes to that. Last season, the Hawks were one of the most talked about teams leading up to the deadline, but there was a different feeling around that team. Whether or not Atlanta is a buyer or a seller at the deadline, this team has young building blocks to lean on going forward, but they have some roster questions that could get answered at the deadline. Currently, the Hawks are 21-19 and have won two straight games, including a 16-point win over the Bulls Wednesday night. Atlanta is in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, but only 1.5 games from the No. 4 seed.
The names that have been brought up in trade rumors over the past month or so have been centers Larry Nance and Clint Capela, as well as Bogdan Bogdanovic. Both centers are on expiring deals and might not be a part of the team’s future and Atlanta could look to flip one of them for assets. Going into the deadline, the Hawks have to figure out what to do with the two centers they have on expiring contracts and if they want to be buyers. They have two glaring needs at the backup point guard spot and backup power forward spots, but this team is not going to make any moves that are not forward-thinking. The Hawks have been a nice surprise this season, but they are not going to make win-now moves to try and improve their record this year if it is not about the future as well. They have a core of Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher that is going to be the future of the franchise. If they can find a player who fits that timeline, they could pursue them at the deadline.
Could that player be Nets center Nic Claxton?
While the backup point guard and power forward spots might be the most noticeable spots for the Hawks, they still have a question mark going forward at center. Capela and Nance are on expiring deals and while Onyeka Okongwu flashes, he has not done enough during his time in Atlanta to firmly take hold of the starting center spot for the future. If the right player became available, would the Hawks take a chance.
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I think that player could be Claxton and I think he would be a great fit on Atlanta. He is young (25 years old), excellent defensively, and should pair well with Trae Young on offense. He received a contract extension from Brooklyn and he would be locked in with Young, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher as the building blocks for the Hawks future.
Let’s look at a hypothetical three-team deal that would send Claxton to Atlanta.
Milwaukee Receives: Cam Johnson, Ziaire Williams, Cody Zeller, and David Roddy
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Jan 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson (2) shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images / Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Why the Hawks do this trade: For the reasons outlined above. They get younger and better at the center position, locking in a starting core for the future. Claxton is eligible to be traded now and while it is possible Brooklyn holds onto him, they are in complete rebuilding mode and could move him. He would give the Hawks a young and elite defensive anchor when he is healthy and a great rim-running partner with Trae Young. Watford would give the Hawks a possible backup power forward option for the rest of the season (when healthy) and if the Hawks like his fit, they could re-sign him in the offseason. This move would not cost the Hawks a lot of assets. Capela is still a good player, but an expiring deal, and Claxton would be an upgrade. Roddy and Zeller are both players who could be moved. The Hawks would still have picks for any future moves or to use to draft players. This move would be forward-thinking and fits with the Hawks’s timeline of the young players on the roster. This move would also keep the Hawks under the luxury tax.
Why the Hawks don’t do this: If they don’t view Claxton as a significant enough upgrade over their current center situation and they don’t want to use any assets to obtain him. The initial Dejounte Murray trade in 2022 took some of the Hawks’ assets away and while they recouped some of that this past summer when they sent him to New Orleans, they don’t have an overabundance of picks like other teams such as OKC or Orlando. Atlanta may just want to sit tight and do nothing for now.
Why the Bucks do this trade: It gets them younger and better. Johnson would be a significant upgrade over Middleton at this stage in their careers and would improve Milwaukee’s chances of making a run to the Finals, which is all that matters to them as long as they have Giannis. Johnson is shooting well and would benefit from having Giannis and Damian Lillard around him. Williams, Roddy, and Zeller would be depth pieces for the team, although Zeller has not played for Atlanta this year and Roddy struggles on defense. It would be an all-in move for the Bucks and maybe the last one they have left. They could move Taurean Prince to the bench in this scenario and that would improve their depth.
Why the Bucks don’t do this: Maybe Milwaukee does not want to send any more draft assets out or they don’t view Johnson as the player to do it for. Aside from him, none of the other three players is likely to help you in the playoffs.
Why the Nets do this trade: It would give them more assets for the rebuild that is going on and improves their lottery odds. It is no secret that Brooklyn is trying to tank for this draft and next year as well since getting their own draft picks back this summer and there have been plenty of rumors of them moving Johnson this season. They would get two future draft picks and a pair of young players in Johnson and Smith that they could get a look at. Capela is an expiring deal and Middleton only has one year left on his contract after this one. They could try to flip Middleton this summer or next season to a contender that is looking for a veteran player who will be on an expiring deal.
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Why the Nets don’t do this trade: Is this enough for them to move off of Johnson and Claxton? Getting an unprotected future pick from Milwaukee is a good asset considering that the Bucks title window is shrinking and that Johnson does not fit in with the Nets future plans. Claxton, however, is 25 years old and could be a part of the Nets future still. Johnson and Smith are intriguing, but there is no guarantee that they would even be decent rotation players. Given MIddleton’s injury history and age, he might not be able to be flipped for much in terms of assets.
This trade might be unlikely, but it makes some sense for all teams involved. The Hawks get younger at center, not to mention Claxton should improve them defensively. Milwaukee gets a younger piece for them to make a run in the East, while the Nets add more assets for the future and improve their tanking odds for this year.
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