Turnovers, once again, do in young Trail Blazers during loss at Hawks

The Portland Trail Blazers shared the ball tremendously well Wednesday night at the Atlanta Hawks leading to a great shooting night from all over the court.

But once again, the Blazers were careless with the basketball leading to a glut of turnovers that contributed greatly to a 120-106 loss at the State Farm Arena.

The Blazers, who for the third time started an all-rookie lineup, shot 50.6% from the field including 45.2% on three-point attempts (14 of 31). The Blazers had 35 assists on 43 made field goals.

However, 19 turnovers that led directly to 26 points for the Hawks proved too much for this young Blazers team to overcome.

The three-point percentage tied for the 10th best this season by the Blazers. The 35 assists tied for the sixth most this season.

“I thought the ball movement was awesome, 20 assists at the half,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters. “Even finishing with 35 was big. We shot it well from two. We shot it well from three. They’re the best offensive-rebounding team in the league. So, we wanted to make sure we did a good job there and we did a good job on that … So many good things we did.”

But, those turnovers ...

“And those things, as a coach, especially with playing so many young guys, it’s almost not much you can do about it until they just keep playing and keep seeing what’s going on and what’s happening and how teams are playing us,” Billups said. “It’s just one of those things you got to live through. But it’s tough to win that way. We didn’t shoot it that well to have a chance to win in a game like that. So, that’s a helpless kind of situation for us right now, for me as a coach.”

Billups added that he thought his team did a great job of playing faster, however, that can also have its downside.

“I thought we did a good job of playing faster,” Billups said. “And that’s also a thing. You play fast and sometimes you’re going to turn it over. And those things kind of go together. Especially when you don’t have experience out there.”

Dalano Banton led the Blazers with a career-high 31 points and Toumani Camara added 17.

Atlanta also shot well, sinking 51.8% of its shots while hitting 39% on threes. Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 30 points. Clint Capella added 13 points with 10 rebounds.

WHAT IT MEANS

The Blazers (19-54) have now lost eight consecutive games, one shy of their longest losing streak of the season. They must now go 4-5 the rest of the way to avoid reaching 60 wins for only the fourth time in franchise history. The Hawks (33-39) firmly sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

BANTON DELIVERS

Banton reset his career high with 31 points and he did so by shooting 13 of 23 from the field and 5 of 11 on threes.

“He’s playing incredible,” Billups said. “He’s coming off the bench and being very aggressive to score the ball. We need every bucket that he gives us.”

HENDERSON RETURNS HOME

Henderson received an opportunity to play 20 miles south of his hometown of Marietta, Georgia. But the night didn’t go all that well. Henderson scored 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting with six assists but also had six turnovers.

NEXT UP

The Blazers continue their trip with a 5 p.m. game Friday at the Miami Heat (39-33).

-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)

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