The Atlanta Hawks Summer League team is rolling.
Atlanta moved to 3-0 in Las Vegas Summer League play on Monday night, dispatching the Boston Celtics 102-90 behind a 30-point performance from Kobe Johnson, who shot 11-for-18 from the floor and added four rebounds.
Henri Veesaar chipped in 20 points and four rebounds of his own, giving Atlanta a one-two punch that Boston could not match in the second half. The Hawks’ defense held the Celtics under 40% shooting on the night.
The win comes on the heels of Saturday’s fourth-quarter comeback over the Brooklyn Nets, 83-76, and Thursday’s 93-66 cruise past the San Antonio Spurs in Atlanta’s Summer League opener — a three-game stretch that featured three different lead scorers and showcased the depth of Atlanta’s young core.
Johnson making the most of his shot
Johnson, who finished with a team-high 17 points in Saturday’s win over Brooklyn, has been the most consistent scorer through Atlanta’s three Summer League games. The 23-year-old wing is trying to lock down a rotation spot heading into his second NBA season.
“He’s really embraced this opportunity,” said one Summer League staffer who watched Monday’s game from the bench. “You can see the confidence growing every night.”
Veesaar, a 7-footer who joined Atlanta’s Summer League squad out of the G League, has also impressed. His 20-point, four-rebound line Monday was his second consecutive double-digit scoring game.
One of three unbeaten teams
Atlanta joins the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets as the only 3-0 teams in Las Vegas Summer League play. The Hawks’ next game is Wednesday afternoon, with the opponent to be determined by Tuesday’s results.
The Las Vegas Summer League championship game is scheduled for Sunday, July 19 and will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.
For the Hawks’ coaching staff, the next four games are the final audition for several players on the fringe of Atlanta’s regular-season roster. Johnson and Veesaar are making those decisions difficult.
