Hawks blow past Cavaliers for first preseason win, 109-93

The Atlanta Hawks were in action again Wednesday night when they ventured to Quicken Loans Arena to face the new look (and LeBron James-less) Cleveland Cavaliers. After a night full of action, the Hawks came away the victors, winning by a final score of 109-93.

Although DeAndre’ Bembry was in uniform, he never saw time on the floor but coach Mike Budenholzer did send out 13 players over the course of the game. Marco Belinelli was a healthy scratch along with John Jenkins.

Miles Plumlee was held out of action tonight with a quad injury but is not expected to be out long-term. At the end of the third quarter, Hawks star rookie John Collins got twisted up with Cavs forward Richard Jefferson and was forced to leave the game with a right shoulder strain. Collins would return to the Atlanta sideline in the fourth quarter still in full uniform.

Early on in the action, the Cavs starters came out blistering hot as they jumped out to a lead to start the game. The Hawks would respond in a big way with center Dewayne Dedmon leading the way. Dedmon did swimmingly with Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder in the pick-and-roll offense and ended the night with 13 points. The Hawks went on a run in the second quarter and narrowed the margin going into the break at halftime to 50-47.

From the start of the third quarter, the Hawks defense really locked down the Cavs second team holding them to just 19 points in the third. Dennis Schroder came out hot in the third quarter and finished the night with 18 points and 4 assists. Per usual in the preseason, Atlanta injected their bench in the fourth quarter and sailed on to a 109-93 win to move to 1-1 on the preseason.

There was a lot to like tonight from the development of chemistry between Dedmon and Schroder to the Hawks shooting 32% from three point land.

The Hawks will suit up again on Friday against the Detroit Pistons. We hope to see you then.