Hawks close Las Vegas Summer League with 89-79 win over Grizzlies

The Atlanta Hawks entered Friday evening’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies with full knowledge that the team’s Summer League journey would be ending after the game. Fortunately, the Hawks still came to play with purpose, and the result was a 89-79 victory to close things on a high note.

The evening began in inauspicious fashion, as the Hawks announced prior to tip-off that Taurean Prince, DeAndre Bembry and Isaia Cordinier (right wrist injury) would be unable for the contest. That did not stop Atlanta from asserting control in the first half, though, and the team was led by Brandon Ashley.

Ashley scored seven points as the Hawks claimed a nine-point lead after the first quarter, and the talented forward produced 12 points in the first half overall. He was flanked by a productive half from Edy Tavares (7 points, 8 rebounds) and that duo led Atlanta to a 37-33 advantage at the break despite the fact that the team shot less than 40 percent from the field.

The second half was more of the same in the positive department, as the Hawks led wire-to-wire. Atlanta’s lead was cut to 49-48 during the third period, but that threat was quickly exterminated, and the Hawks maintained a solid margin for the rest of the contest.

In Atlanta’s 10-point victory, Ashley, Tavares, Brandon Taylor and Bryce Cotton were the clear standouts. Ashley filled the stat sheet to the tune of 17 points and 7 rebounds, while Cotton added a team-high 18 points and Tavares produced 11 points and 10 rebounds in only 19 minutes of action. Down the stretch, it was Taylor’s show, and the point guard finished with 14 points and 4 assists in the winning effort. All told, the Hawks deployed only nine players, but it was more than enough to grab a fourth win of the week.

Stay tuned.