Here are five observations.

1. It didn’t help the Hawks’ cause that the Grizzlies shot the lights out early. They knocked down 13 three-pointers in the first half, including eight in the first quarter, allowing them to jump out and score 43 points.

Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane scored twice in the first two minutes before the rest of the team caught fire, with Scotty Pippen Jr., Marcus Smart and Santi Aldama hitting five three-pointers in two minutes.

The Hawks couldn’t hold onto the ball at the rim, allowing the Grizzlies to advance upfield. The result was that the Hawks’ defense collapsed, leaving the Grizzlies’ shooters wide open for three players on the sidelines.

With 43 seconds left in the first period, Jaren Jackson Jr. dribbled into the paint. Although the Hawks interfered with his handles, he recovered enough to kick the ball to Jake LaRavia in the corner. LaRavia’s 3 fell as he fell out of bounds and the shot clock buzzed.

“We didn’t control the ball well enough,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “But often these trips didn’t necessarily serve the purpose. They were thrown out again and we were overwhelmed with finding a space and cutting them, looking good and making them.”

2. The Hawks defense bounced back in the second half. They held the Grizzlies to 55 points and with their stops they got out and ran.

Dyson Daniels’ defense continued to shine. On an incoming pass from Zach Edey, Daniels grabbed the ball and sank a three-pointer. On the next possession, he pushed the ball away from Jackson and scored a layup. Then he caught Pippen.

Daniels finished the game with 15 points, three rebounds, six assists, one block and six steals.

3. This season, the Hawks have used their defense to generate their offense. But with their defense faltering in the first half, they were slow to come out and run. It affected her pace.

Despite surpassing their season low in points, the Hawks simply couldn’t keep up with the pace at which they’ve been winning games this season. Before garbage time, the Hawks were averaging just 95.6 points per 100 possessions.

The Hawks scored just 49 points in the first 24 minutes and had several point losses as the Grizzlies ran up the score. The Grizzlies went on a seven-minute 22-9 run between the first and second quarters, followed by another five-minute 15-6 run in the third quarter.

“We gave away too much tonight,” Daniels said. “We didn’t get enough stops, so we couldn’t run as much as we wanted. And give them credit. They took shots. They made it difficult for us. But I think it starts with that defense. And come ready to play.”

4. They didn’t seem to be in the right mood early in the game, especially with defenseman Trae Young missing from the rotation. The Hawks ruled Young out with a bruised right heel and continued to handle playmaking by committee.

Wing Vit Krejci started the game while two-way guard Keaton Wallace came off the bench after they traded him from the Skyhawks on Friday.

With Krejci and Wallace in the rotation, the Hawks utilized some new lineups to optimize spacing and add some defensive energy. One lineup included Wallace, Daniels, rookie Zaccharie Risacher, forward David Roddy and center Clint Capela. The Hawks also tried a lineup that included Wallace, Daniels, forwards De’Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson, and Capela.

5. The Hawks got another big night from Hunter, who continued to thrive off the bench. Hunter scored 26 points and had a season-high four assists.

Hunter extended his streak of 15 or more points to 11 straight games and continued to set a franchise record for most consecutive games without coming off the bench.

Stat knowing

Daniels has his fifth season with at least six steals, the most such games by a Hawk in a full season since 1996-97 (Mookie Blaylock: 6).

Quotable

“They play chaos ball, just move the ball, drive it and figure out whose opening it is.” – Daniels on the Grizzlies

Next

The Hawks face Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves on Monday at State Farm Arena.