The Sports Inquirer

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Day: February 19, 2016

Atlanta Hawks fall at home to Miami Heat, 115-111 #miamiheat #atlantahawks — February 19, 2016

Atlanta Hawks fall at home to Miami Heat, 115-111 #miamiheat #atlantahawks

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Jeff Teague
Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague
Photo credit: NBAE/Getty Images

By E. Marcel Pourtout, Editor

Behind a game-high 30 points and 11 rebounds from Luol Deng, the Miami Heat emerged with a 115-111 road win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night at Philips Arena. It was the first game after the All-Star break for both teams.

Deng’s double-double was matched by teammates Josh McRoberts who scored 19 points and dished out 10 assists off the bench and Goran Dragic’s 17 points and 10 assists. The Heat, who were missing the services of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh due to injury and a suspended Hassan Whiteside, shot 50 percent from the field and made eight three-pointers.

“Whatever was required had to be the mentality,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We had some timely, good defensive plays and that got us out into the pace we needed to be at. You have to have a certain level of grit and toughness in this league to win.”

Jeff Teague scored a team-high 23 points along with seven assists for the Hawks. Atlanta’s Paul Millsap grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and scored 12 points for a double-double. The Hawks shot 47.1 percent from the field and made 16 three-pointers. Atlanta also converted all 13 free-throw attempts.

Atlanta committed 21 turnovers and were outrebounded 46-42. Both teams had 27 assists.

“Coming into the break, I feel like defensively we’ve been playing better,” Hawks’ coach Mike Budenholzer said. “To give up 115 points on 50-percent shooting is tough. We have to be a lot better and start doing it on the court. It’s a disappointing way to start after the break.”

With the score tied at 52-52 at halftime, Atlanta ended the third quarter on a 10-3 run to take an 81-79 lead into the fourth quarter.

Miami outscored Atlanta 36-30 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

Atlanta trailed Miami 22-19 at the end of the first quarter. Both teams struggled from the floor as the Hawks shot 30 percent and the Heat were at 36 percent.

The Hawks showed improved play in the second quarter and was able to tie the score at 52-52 heading into halftime. Al Horford had a team-high 10 first-half points for the Hawks who shot 46.2 percent from the field through the first two quarters. Mike Scott had 10 points off the bench for Atlanta.

Miami shot 46.7 percent in the first half behind a game-high 15 points from Deng. Winslow scored nine points for the Heat.

 

Backdoor Cut:#atlantahawks #atlhawks Paul Millsap presser 2.19.16 —

Backdoor Cut:#atlantahawks #atlhawks Paul Millsap presser 2.19.16

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Paul Millsap
Atlanta Hawks’ forward Paul Millsap
Photo Credit: Jesse Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

By E. Marcel Pourtout, Editor

The Sports Inquirer attended the pregame presser of Atlanta Hawks’ forward Paul Millsap before his team’s home contest against the Miami Heat on Feb. 19. Topics included the passing of the trade deadline and areas of improvement for the Hawks as the unofficial start  to the second half of the season begins.

Backdoor Cut: #AtlantaHawks #atlhawks Mike Budenholzer presser 2.19.16 —

Backdoor Cut: #AtlantaHawks #atlhawks Mike Budenholzer presser 2.19.16

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By E. Marcel Pourtout, Editor

The Sports Inquirer attended the pregame presser of Atlanta Hawks’ head coach Mike Budenholzer before his team’s home contest against the Miami Heat on Feb. 19.
Topics included thoughts on the trade deadline passing the previous day, the challenges Miami present, the acquisition of Kirk Hinrich and potential roster moves in the future.

Backdoor Cut: #AtlantaHawks #atlhawks Kent Bazemore presser 2.19.16 —

Backdoor Cut: #AtlantaHawks #atlhawks Kent Bazemore presser 2.19.16

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By E. Marcel Pourtout, Editor

The Sports Inquirer attended the pregame presser of Atlanta Hawks’ guard/forward Kent Bazemore before his team’s home contest against the Miami Heat on Feb. 19. Topics included thoughts on the trade deadline passing the previous day, dealing with the deadline from a professional athlete’s perspective, the challenges that the Heat present and preparing for the unofficial second half of the NBA season.

Backdoor Cut: #atlantahawks #atlhawks Al Horford pregame presser 2.19.16 —
Three Jackets Try Out for US Women’s National Team —

Three Jackets Try Out for US Women’s National Team

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Teegan Van Gunst
Georgia Tech outside hitter Teegan Van Gunst
Photo credit: Georgia Tech Athletics

Release from Georgia Tech Athletics:

Georgia Tech volleyball standout and honorable mention All-American Teegan Van Gunst along with sophomore starters Sydney Wilson and Gabby Benda will try out for the U.S. Women’s National Team at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs from Feb. 19-21.

“I am looking forward to this opportunity for our players,” head coach Michelle Collier said. “It will give them a glimpse of what it is like at the international level, and I am sure they will become better players with this opportunity to compete and train with the best in the country. I’m excited to see Georgia Tech represented as it shows our continuing progress to reach the highest level of volleyball that we can individually and as a team.”

 

Live streaming for the tryouts is available beginning on Friday at 4 p.m. ET and fans can access the stream here – Live Stream

The tryout will evaluate approximately 231 athletes from 88 colleges from across the country for spots on the U.S. Women’s National Team and the U.S. Collegiate National Team program.

U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly and his staff will direct the entire tryout process. The tryout will involve four sessions with three waves per session. Friday’s first session goes from 4-10 p.m. ET, while Saturday’ssessions are at 10 a.m. ET (focus on serve/receive and individual work) and 4 p.m. ET (middle-centered and out-of-system focus). The tryout concludes on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET with tournament style play, along with 16-18 athletes selected by the staff to participate in a “USA” training session.