:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64684215/1154501333.jpg.0.jpg)
The Atlanta Hawks took the floor on Saturday in Las Vegas, beginning their Summer League journey with a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. In follow-up, Greg Foster’s club faced off with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday and things didn’t go particularly well on the way to a 90-66 loss.
The headliner of the afternoon was the debut of No. 4 pick De’Andre Hunter and No. 34 pick Bruno Fernando, both of whom arrived after official trade announcements on Saturday evening. While the Hawks were without Charlie Brown Jr. (sore hip) and Tahjere McCall (sore ankle), it was intriguing to see a closer facsimile of the team’s roster, but the results weren’t optimal in an overall sense.
Atlanta dug a hole in the early going, falling behind by a 16-4 margin. The game was an utter slug for the majority of the first half, with a barrage of free throws and overall ineptitude (including the Hawks shooting 4 of 20 from the floor in the first quarter), but there were a handful of intriguing highlights.
Fernando and Hunter both put together nice moments, with the Maryland big man getting on the board first and Hunter burying a three for his first professional field goal.
welcome to the show @BrunoFernandoMV pic.twitter.com/g93BfejKiD
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 7, 2019
Hunter with the convincingly aesthetic above the break 3 off the little rhythm hop. Not the fastest release but compensates with a higher release point. Didn't take a lot of deep 3s at UVA. Good to see. pic.twitter.com/oazYS7Q9tm
— Cole Zwicker (@colezwicker) July 7, 2019
Later, Matt Mooney found Omari Spellman for a dunk.
@Omarispellman pic.twitter.com/zEkGFsz5Lx
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 7, 2019
Still, the Hawks entered the second half in a 15-point hole and they never fully emerged from it. Atlanta cut the margin to 10 during the third period before their momentum stalled and, in the closing period, things went awry to the tune of a lopsided defeat.
Offensively, it was ugly from start to finish and that was reflected in the individual statistics. Jordan Sibert and Jaylen Adams struggled mightily in the efficiency department (combining to shoot 4 of 24 from the floor), with Spellman (16 points, eight rebounds), Fernando (five points, seven rebounds, four blocks) and Hunter (six points, three rebounds) contributing at a more consistent level.
After a back-to-back, the Hawks will enjoy a day off on Monday before returning to action on Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers at 5:30 pm ET.
Stay tuned.