Paul Millsap to return in bench role against Brooklyn Nets

The Atlanta Hawks have been largely rudderless in the absence of Paul Millsap, posting a 2-6 record with wins coming over only the Suns and Sixers in close-fought fashion. However, the team received a piece of positive news on Sunday afternoon, as Millsap will reportedly return to action in a bench role against the Brooklyn Nets.

Millsap, who operates as the team’s best player on both ends of the floor, missed the past eight games with what the Hawks classified as left knee synovitis. In his absence, Ersan Ilyasova ascended to a starting role and, in this one-game sample, that will continue.

It will be interesting to see how the minutes break down for Millsap and the rest of the lineup on Sunday evening (and Budenholzer stated he’ll be on a minutes restriction), though it is an undeniable uptick to get the All-Star power forward back. In addition, the Hawks have three full days of rest before returning home to face Boston on Thursday and Atlanta has every reason to be quite careful with Millsap’s playing time as a result.