Hawks Game 22: Dec. 3, 2024
New Orleans Pelicans at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: NO 112 – ATL 124
The Atlanta Hawks won their fourth consecutive game and returned to a .500 record at 11-11 on the season with a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Dejounte Murray returned to State Farm Arena after the offseason trade, hoping to ball out against his former squad. However, Dyson Daniels had other plans; he held Murray to 2-15 shooting for seven points. Daniels played well against his old team, with 19 points and four steals.
Despite 18 turnovers, Atlanta won behind its halfcourt defense and dominance in the paint. The Hawks won the paint battle, 74-54, and held New Orleans under 30 points in three of the four quarters. Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanović, and De’Andre Hunter were a combined 1-10 from the field with three minutes to go in the first half. However, the Hawks only found themselves down 58-59 at halftime.
Atlanta turned on the jets in the second half, scoring 66 points and only turning the ball over seven times. The Hawks grabbed an 85-75 lead late in the third, but the Pelicans cut the deficit to four to begin the fourth frame. Jalen Johnson ignited the crowd with a poster dunk on Yves Missi, and he, Daniels, Young, and Hunter closed out the win.
Jalen Johnson, have mercy! pic.twitter.com/rL49SUQt9C
— NBA University (@NBA_University) December 3, 2024
Clint Capela locked down the paint with a season-high 17 rebounds, and Johnson had 19 points and seven boards. Young scored just 12 points but dished out 15 assists, while Hunter led the Hawks with 22 points off the bench.
CJ McCollum scored 29 points, and Missi impressed with a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double. Brandon Boston Jr. dropped 19 off the Pelicans’ bench.
Game 23: Dec. 4, 2024
Atlanta Hawks at Milwaukee Bucks
Final Score: ATL 119 – MIL 104
The Hawks stretched their win streak to five games when they took down the Milwaukee Bucks on the road. Over this stretch, Atlanta ranks second in defensive rating at 105.2. Milwaukee scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and 45 in the second half. Giannis Antetokounmpo took 26 free throws in this game- four more than the Hawks as a team. However, he only hit 15, and Atlanta shot 20-22 from the stripe. The Hawks dominated the points in the paint, 64-34, out-rebounded Milwaukee, 55-40, and won the turnover battle, 11-18.
Despite Atlanta going down 6-16 in the first few minutes, Both teams finished the first frame hot, as Atlanta led 38-35. The Hawks went up double digits in the second after a 7-1 run behind Bogdanović’s 3-4 start from deep for 13 early points. Johnson threw down two ferocious dunks to end the half with a 70-59 lead.
After Atlanta started the third frame on a 9-0 run to lead by 20 points, the Bucks fought their way back after four straight threes from A.J. Green and Gary Trent Jr., cutting the deficit to 81-89. The Hawks took a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter. Head Coach Quin Snyder closed with Onyeka Okongwu, who has defended Antetokounmpo well. The Hawks’ center came through again, limiting the superstar to just one made field goal in the fourth.
Atlanta’s bench dominated again, outsourcing the Bucks’ reserves 50-31. Hunter had 20 points, Bogdanović scored 15 with five assists and five steals, and Okongwu dropped 13. Johnson led the way with 23 points and 13 boards.
Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were the only Bucks’ offense. Lillard finished with 25 points and five triples, while Antetokounmpo had 31 points and 11 rebounds.
Game 24: Dec. 6, 2024
Los Angeles Lakers at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: LAL 132 – ATL 134
The Hawks made it six straight wins in an epic overtime thriller against the Los Angeles Lakers. With Atlanta down one late in overtime, Daniels picked off Anthony Davis’ pass. The Hawks’ guard thought he had a dunk, but LeBron James swatted it away off Daniels. Atlanta tied up Davis on the next possession, forcing a jump ball. James hit the ball out of bounds to give the Hawks a chance to win it on the final possession.
Young and Hunter worked a pick-and-pop at the top of the key. When Gabe Vincent and Davis were not on the same page, Hunter swung it over to the Hawks’ star, and he buried a game-winning triple. James’ halfcourt heave clanged off the rim, sending the State Farm Arena crowd into a frenzy.
ICE TRAE YOUNG IS HIS NAME pic.twitter.com/E97YQ8QcEo
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 7, 2024
Neither team led by more than 11 points in the contest, with both offenses shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from deep. In the third frame, the Lakers went on a 13-2 run, but Atlanta bounced right back with an 11-2 stretch. Over most of this win streak, the Hawks’ defense has been better than their offense. However, that was not the case in this game; multiple players stepped up for Atlanta despite an off-night from Johnson.
Young finished with 31 points and a whopping 20 assists, while Hunter and Bogdanović had 26 and 20 points, respectively. Okongwu added 15 off the bench, and Atlanta’s bench outscored Los Angeles’ reserves 65-17.
James and Davis carried the Lakers. James triple-doubled with 39 points, 10 boards, 11 assists, three blocks, and two steals, while Davis had 38 points, 10 rebounds, eight dimes, and two blocks. The next closest scorer was Dalton Knecht, with 14.
Game 25: Dec. 8, 2024
Denver Nuggets at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: Den 141 – ATL 111
The Denver Nuggets ended the Hawks’ win streak at six games behind a dominant performance from Nikola Jokić. The three-time NBA Most Valuable Player totaled 48 points (17-29 FG), 14 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Atlanta had no counter for the Nuggets’ high-powered offense. Denver scored at least 33 points in every quarter, shooting 62% from the field and 44% from deep. Jamal Murray (hamstring) missed the contest, but Denver got big contributions from Michael Porter Jr. (26 points) and Christian Braun (17 points).
Johnson (shoulder) and Bogdanović (quad) were ruled out before tip-off, so Larry Nance Jr. started at power forward. He put up 16 points, but like many of his teammates, he struggled defensively. The Hawks never led in the contest. They struggled to find the bottom of the net outside of the third frame when they put up 36 points. Atlanta put together a 13-2 run in the third frame but only managed to cut the deficit to 20. In Snyder’s postgame press conference, he talked about the Hawks’ lack of energy and execution.
“We weren’t good on either defense or offense, and we lacked urgency on the defensive end,” said Snyder.”
Hunter led Atlanta with 20 points on 7-20 shooting. Daniels was a bright spot with 18 points, five steals, and six dimes, and Young put up 15 points and 10 assists.
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
