Prince on yo-yo ride from D-League

It might be Taurean Prince’s turn to play in the NBA Development League one night and the NBA the next.

Fellow rookie DeAndre Bembry did it this season. Before their meeting with the Mavericks on Saturday, the Hawks recalled Prince, along with Mike Scott, from a D-League assignment with the Long Island Nets and Prince wound up playing 14 minutes that night.

The Hawks traded Kyle Korver in a deal completed on Saturday and Bembry had to leave the team for personal reasons after a death in the family, leaving holes in the roster.

“We were happy with Taurean to get all the minutes and that opportunity,” coach Mike Budenholzer said before Saturday’s game. “He’ll go from playing in a D-League game last night to playing in an NBA game tonight. That’s what we talked to him about. When you play those minutes, it better prepares you to contribute and be in a good place tonight.”

Prince played four games for Long Island, averaging 21.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals in 29.8 minutes. Calling the assignment a “humbling experience,” Prince said the Hawks wanted him to focus on his off-the-ball defense. He certainly proved he could score.

“We are in the NBA because we can score,” Prince said. “We’ve all showed an ability to do that in one point of time.

“I think one of the big things to get better at, and my main focus, was defensively, not necessarily on the ball but off the ball. Being in the right spots, playing team defense and trying to get better.”

Prince has appeared in 21 games for the Hawks, averaging 3.3 points and 2 rebounds in 10.1 minutes.