Hawks coach Snyder decries Landale injury play; Alexander-Walker breaks club three-point record
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Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder labeled the foul that sidelined reserve center Jock Landale as “dirty” during an appearance Tuesday morning on 92.9 The Game. The incident occurred last Wednesday in Orlando, when Magic big man Goga Bitadze yanked Landale down by the shoulder on a layup attempt. Landale landed awkwardly, suffered a sprained ankle and was ruled out for a minimum of two weeks.
“I wish it had been taken more seriously,” Snyder said, noting that the league issued neither a fine nor a suspension. He added that similar plays against Atlanta happened in Orlando last season, costing Larry Nance Jr. and Vit Krejci the remainder of their campaigns. “The plan seems to be to try to bully us, but it didn’t work,” he said.
Alexander-Walker’s historic night
Guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker poured in 36 points and sank seven three-pointers in Monday’s 108-105 home loss to the New York Knicks. His season total climbed to 244 made threes, surpassing Bogdan Bogdanović’s franchise record of 240 set in 2023-24.
Rotation squeeze trims Risacher, Kispert minutes
Second-year forward Zaccharie Risacher logged a career-low seven minutes against New York. Snyder attributed the brief stint to a crowded rotation rather than performance. “We only have so many players we can put in,” he explained.
Sharpshooter Corey Kispert has received three DNP-Coach’s Decisions in the past four games after appearing in the club’s first 35 contests. Snyder said additional minutes for Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels and Jonathan Kuminga have pushed Kispert to the bench.
Knicks loss viewed as teaching tool
Monday’s defeat snapped Atlanta’s stretch of 18 wins in 20 outings. Alexander-Walker called the tight game “a lesson” that will help the Hawks prepare for a possible postseason matchup with New York. “Now we know how much better we can be,” he said.
Source: Hoops Rumors
