Skip to content

Smooth Performance of the Night: Paul Millsap sheds shoulder pad, sheds slump

Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

As it turns out, Paul Millsap was struggling in part because of an uncomfortable pad on his injured right shoulder.

The Atlanta Hawks power forward had missed five games late in the regular season due to a right shoulder strain, returning for the regular-season finale. He shot 2-of-9 in that outing and followed it up with a 2-of-11 performance in Game 1 of their series against the Brooklyn Nets. That gave him just 11 points since returning but surprisingly led to little concern that the injury might be lingering.

Just as Millsap had suggested, the pad was affecting his shot. He shed it for Game 2 on Wednesday and shed the slump in the process, leading the Hawks to a 96-91 victory and a 2-0 series lead.

Millsap finished with a team-high 19 points, a total that came on a ridiculous 7-of-11 mark from the floor. He was also a perfect 4-of-4 from outside and added seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

On a night when the Hawks shared the scoring - hardly a surprise considering nobody on the team topped Millsap's 30 points from Nov. 12 all season long - it was Millsap's efficiency that stood out among six Hawks scoring eight or more points.

An unrestricted free agent this summer, Millsap has done well this season to improve his market value. The 30-year-old averaged 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks in 32.7 minutes, shooting 47.6 percent from the floor and 35.6 percent from outside. 

The Hawks don't need to think about a potential future without him until their playoff run ends, a date that could be pushed further and further ahead if Millsap continues to play this well. The key is obviously the shoulder pad.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox