Game 18: Nov. 25, 2024
Dallas Mavericks at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: DAL 129 – ATL 119
The Dallas Mavericks pulled away in the final minutes over the Atlanta Hawks without Luka Dončić (wrist), Klay Thompson (foot), and Quentin Grimes (illness). Kyrie Irving struggled in the first half but went nuclear in the second to finish with 32 points (11-28 FG). He scored 11 points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, putting on a shot-making clinic with multiple stepback threes; Irving scored half his points in the frame. Spencer Dinwiddie, Jaden Hardy and Naji Marshall finished with 22, 23 and 22 points, respectively.
The Hawks held a 67-61 lead at halftime, but their offense slowed down in the second half while Dallas’ soared. Atlanta managed 52 points in the final 24 minutes, while the Mavericks scored 68. Dallas outscored the Hawks from deep by 21 points. When Atlanta had to fight back against Irving’s fourth-frame storm, Head Coach Quin Snyder closed with Jalen Johnson, who had 28 points, 11 boards, and three steals, to maximize shooting and offensive versatility. However, the Hawks could not string together stops to mount a comeback.
Trae Young has struggled with his shot lately, but he continued his passing dominance with 16 assists and 18 points. Dyson Daniels collected 14 points (7-14 FG) with two steals, while Bogdan Bogdanović dropped 18 points.
Game 19: Nov. 27, 2024
Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers
Final Score: ATL 135 – CLE 124
The Hawks handed the Cleveland Cavaliers, now 17-2 on the season, their first home loss of the campaign behind great three-point shooting and ball movement. Atlanta has been on the wrong side of shooting variance many times, but they shot 20-42 from beyond the arc. The Hawks also collected 39 assists, 22 of which came in a career-high effort from Young, on 46 made field goals.
Atlanta shook off a bad start, down 27-8 in the first quarter, with a 24-5 run to tie the game at 35 heading into the second quarter. The Hawks’ bench scored 27 of those 35 points. Atlanta had an answer each time Cleveland threatened to run away with the game. Down the stretch, after the Cavaliers cut the Hawks’ lead to four with just over one minute left, Young drilled a clutch logo three and found Onyeka Okongwu in the paint to seal the impressive victory.
ICE
TRAE
YOUNG pic.twitter.com/x4v2UY5Do1— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 28, 2024
Johnson stuffed the stat sheet for 22 points, nine boards, and seven assists, while De’Andre Hunter led the Hawks with 26 points (9-16 FG) and five threes. Zaccharie Risacher broke out for 13 straight points to begin the third quarter, finishing with 17, and Bogdanović added 17 of his own.
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, and Evan Mobley had a monster 22-point, 12-rebound double-double with four steals and three blocks. Cleveland’s big four—Jarrett Allen (17 points), Darius Garland (19 points), Mitchell, and Mobley—played well, but the Hawks won the bench points 62-28.
Game 20: Nov. 29, 2024
Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: CLE 101 – ATL 117
NBA Cup Record: 3-1
The Hawks took down the Cavaliers by double digits for the second straight game. Atlanta finished 3-1 in the NBA Cup group stage and will advance to the knockout round after winning Group C. Other groups must finish before the Hawks discover their next tournament opponent.
Cleveland got out to another hot start with a 16-8 lead, but Atlanta righted the ship quickly. Despite seven first-quarter turnovers, the Hawks held a two-point lead. They built their first double-digit lead at 52-41, but Garland and Mitchell drained four consecutive threes to close the first half, cutting their deficit to 50-52.
Clint Capela had a great third quarter with eight points to lead a 13-5 run out of the locker room. The Hawks extended their advantage to 91-73 before the fourth, dominating the frame 39-23. Cleveland cut the deficit to 12 with five minutes left, but clutch triples at the end shot clock from Young, Daniels, and Okongwu sealed the victory down the stretch.
Despite 18 turnovers, Atlanta pulled off the win from hot shooting (51% FG and 41% 3PT) and lockdown defense. Mitchell struggled to find a rhythm against Daniels, missing his first eight shots for 12 points on 5-23 from the field. Garland and Mobley had 29 and 24 points, respectively, but they were the only Cavaliers in double digits.
Atlanta’s bench dominated again, 50-28, behind Hunter’s 23 points and Okongwu’s 15. Young dropped a 21-point, 11-assist double-double, and Johnson had 20 points, nine boards and seven assists. Capela had a big impact defensively, with 13 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks.
Game 21: Nov. 30, 2024
Atlanta Hawks at Charlotte Hornets
Final Score: ATL 107 – CHA 104
It was not pretty, but the Hawks escaped with a victory over the Charlotte Hornets for their first three-game win streak of the campaign. Atlanta turned the ball over 20 times and shot just 10-33 from deep, but their halfcourt defense kept Charlotte from running away. The Hornets started a red-hot 7-14 from beyond the arc in the first and finished with 18 triples. They outscored the Hawks by 24 points from distance, but Atlanta dominated the points in the paint, 56-26.
Without LaMelo Ball, Tre Mann, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams, Brandon Miller played 39 minutes and got up 30 shots for 32 points. This game came down to the wire, but Hunter scored nine of the last 11 points to lift his squad. Miller hit a contested fading three to cut the Hawks’ lead to 103-102 with 15 seconds remaining. After Hunter hit two free throws, Miller launched another tough triple but fell short, forcing Charlotte to foul once again. Okongwu sealed the win at the stripe.
Josh Green stepped up for 17 points. Vasilje Micić, who will start for at least two weeks while Ball and Mann are out, had 15 points, eight rebounds, and five dimes.
The Hawks bench stepped up once again. Okongwu dropped 15 points and grabbed 11 boards, while Hunter had 18 points. Johnson added 20 points and nine assists, and Risacher scored 14 points. Capela locked down the paint in the first half with 14 rebounds and two blocks.
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