Hawks Game 1: Oct. 23, 2024
Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: BKN 116 – ATL 120
The Atlanta Hawks started the 2024-25 campaign with a victory behind great performances from Trae Young and Onyeka Okongwu. Young found his playmaking groove immediately with six first-quarter dimes and finished with 30 points and 12 assists. Okongwu looked like a man amongst boys in the paint, playing 28 minutes off the bench for a career-high 28 points (11-12 FG), eight rebounds, and three blocks. The 23-year-old center closed the game over Clint Capela due to the Brooklyn Nets playing small ball with Dorian Finney-Smith or Ben Simmons at the five.
(Dale Zanine/ Imagn Images)
Cam Thomas led Brooklyn with 36 points; however, he had an inefficient 16 points heading into the fourth due to Dyson Daniels’ strong ball pressure. Daniels was impressed in his Hawks debut, scoring 15 points (2-4 3PT), five rebounds, and five steals.
With eight minutes left in a tight game, Nic Claxton committed a dangerous flagrant-two clothesline foul on Daniels on a fastbreak. Daniels immediately got up in Claxton’s face, and both players started jawing back and forth. Not even a minute after Claxton’s ejection, Thomas committed a hard foul on De’Andre Hunter in transition, and Okongwu took exception. Thomas and Okongwu received technical fouls each, but both sequences lit a fire under the Hawks. Atlanta built a 102-92 lead after the scuffles and survived Thomas’ 20-point fourth frame to come away with the 120-116 win.
Hawks Game 2: Oct. 25, 2024
Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: CHA 120 – ATL 125
Anytime Young and LaMelo Ball go head-to-head, it is must-see TV. The two-star point guards did not disappoint on Friday night when the Hawks took down the Charlotte Hornets to start the season 2-0. Young dropped his second consecutive 30-and-10 game with 38 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, and four steals in an all-around stellar performance. Even though Ball started scoreless after the first frame, he caught fire when Daniels was forced to the bench with three fouls and 9:00 minutes left in the second quarter. Ball finished with a career-high nine triples (9-14 3PT), 34 points, five rebounds, and four assists but also collected 10 turnovers. The Hawks survived Charlotte’s hot three-point shooting- 41.2% (21-51) from beyond the arc.
(Jordan Godfree/Imagn Images)
Daniels dropped a career-high 18 points (8-10 FG) in just his second game with his new squad and stuffed the stat sheet with two steals, two blocks, and four dimes. Hunter continued his strong start to the season with 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Young, Daniels, and Hunter led Atlanta’s relentless offensive attack.
Atlanta got out to an early 11-point lead, generating easy offense from consistent paint penetration. However, Charlotte remained competitive throughout the game on the strength of their offensive rebounding. The Hornets grabbed 14 offensive boards compared to the Hawks’ three before halftime and finished with a 22-7 advantage. They will need to remedy their issues on the glass when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
Jalen Johnson Signs Extension
On Oct. 21, the Hawks locked up Jalen Johnson on a five-year, $150 million rookie contract extension. He has struggled to begin the campaign, but Hawks fans should not be panicking about the 22-year-old forward. Johnson is normally a great finisher around the rim, but he is shooting just 40% on shots less than 10 feet from the rim compared to 59.5% last season. That number is highly likely to rise in the coming games.
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