Hawks Game 30: Dec. 24, 2024
Minnesota Timberwolves at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: MIN 104 – ATL 117
The Atlanta Hawks broke their three-game losing streak with a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at home. Usually, the Hawks’ offensive success comes from their points in the paint. However, they shot 18-36 from beyond the arc, led by Garrison Mathews, who got extended minutes due to Bogdan Bogdanović’s absence. Atlanta’s sharpshooter tied a career-high, going 7-8 from deep for 25 points. Minnesota won the points in the paint, outrebounded the Hawks, and took 18 more shots from the field. However, Atlanta’s hot shooting was enough despite both teams having 21 turnovers.
The Hawks came out of the gate playing great basketball on both ends. They took a 35-19 lead into the second quarter, but the Timberwolves went on an 18-5 run to begin the frame. Minnesota flipped the score, taking a 55-52 lead at halftime after being down by 19 points. Atlanta only made five shots in the second quarter.
After a roller-coaster first half, both teams scored 30 points in the third to set up a tight game in the fourth. However, the Hawks dominated the final frame 35-19 thanks to a 19-6 run to close out the win before the Timberwolves emptied their bench.
Trae Young returned after missing the last game due to a heel contusion. He put up 29 points (8-15 FG), shooting 4-7 from beyond the arc. Dyson Daniels’ defense on Anthony Edwards was impressive all night. The Hawks’ guard collected eight steals and two blocks, holding Minnesota’s star to 16 points on 7-20 shooting. De’Andre Hunter scored 19 (5-9 FG), and Jalen Johnson had 17 points, 11 boards and seven dimes.
Naz Reid scored 23 points to lead the Timberwolves. Julius Randle totaled 19 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists but shot 6-15 from the field.
Game 31: Dec. 26, 2024
Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: CHI 133 – ATL 141
Coming into this game, the Hawks and Chicago Bulls ranked second and third in the NBA in pace. As a result, a high-scoring affair was expected. However, very few predicted the outcome. Chicago led this game by as much as 21 points, but the Hawks roared back in the fourth, 50-25, to pull off a miraculous comeback.
Atlanta trailed by 19 points with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Hawks put together a 9-2 run behind Young and Daniels’ back-to-back threes to cut Chicago’s lead to 126-116 with 4:30 on the game clock. Suddenly, the State Farm Arena crowd knew the home team had a chance and roared to life. Minutes later, Hunter and Young cashed in two triples to tie the game at 126. Atlanta seized all the momentum, took a four-point lead with under a minute left, and never relinquished it.
Despite the Bulls hitting 22 threes, the Hawks pulled out the victory, scoring at least 32 points in the final three frames. Jevon Carter and Zach LaVine went nuclear in the first and third frames. Carter knocked down all six triples in the first and had 26 for the game, while LaVine scored 22 of his 37 points on six threes in the third. Coby White dropped 23 points with nine assists.
Johnson totaled a career-high 30 points and 15 boards. He did all his work inside the arc, dominating the Bulls in the paint. Young had 27 points and 13 dimes, while Hunter scored 25 on a perfect 10-10 from the charity stripe.
Game 32: Dec. 28, 2024
Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: MIA 110 – ATL 120
The Hawks pulled away in the final minutes of a close game against the Miami Heat. Both squads were without key pieces. Jimmy Butler (reconditioning) and Josh Richardson (heel) sat out for Miami, and Daniels (illness) and Bogdanović (leg) missed for the home squad.
Without Butler, Tyler Herro took on an even bigger role. He finished with 28 points (8-15 FG), 10 assists, and seven rebounds to lead his squad. However, the Hawks’ team defense neutralized most of Herro’s teammates. Bam Adebayo mustered 17 points on 8-17 shooting with 10 boards, while Jaime Jaquez Jr., who started for Butler, struggled mightily for eight points (4-12 FG).
Neither team held a double-digit lead until Atlanta went on a 9-0 run after Miami cut the deficit to 107-108 with three minutes to go. Head Coach Quin Snyder closed with Young, Mathews, Hunter, Johnson, and Nance. In the past, this five-man lineup has struggled defensively. However, after the Heat targeted Nance in the pick-and-roll to cut the Hawks’ lead, the home team responded. Atlanta got five consecutive stops to put the game out of reach with one minute left.
Johnson dominated this game in every offensive aspect. He totaled 28 points (13-20 FG), 13 boards, five assists and two steals. Hunter dropped 26 points on 8-14 from the field, continuing to build his Sixth Man of the Year candidacy. Young struggled with his shot for 11 points but dished out 15 assists, and Mathews shot 4-7 from deep for 18 points.
Game 33: Dec. 29, 2024
Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors
Final Score: ATL 136 – TOR 107
The Hawks dominated the Toronto Raptors in a wire-to-wire victory to end a 4-0 week. They forced Toronto into a whopping 31 turnovers, collecting 22 steals off those miscues. In the first six minutes, the Raptors had six turnovers compared to just one field goal attempt. However, the Hawks started 2-9 from the field, so they did not capitalize on their great defensive start. Throughout the first half, Atlanta built numerous double-digit leads behind Hunter and Young’s 17 points each, but when Young and Johnson subbed out, Toronto got back in the game.
This trend ended in the third quarter when the Hawks put together a 10-2 and 14-4 run, led by Young. When the Raptors went under the screen, he cashed in from beyond the arc. If they chased him over, Young got into the paint and compromised Toronto’s defense. The Hawks also held the home team without a field goal over the last 3:30 in the third frame to blow the game open. Atlanta won the quarter 40-24.
Young finished with 34 points, seven threes, and 10 dimes, while Hunter added 22 points. Onyeka Okongwu returned after a five-game absence with 15 points in 18 minutes, and Zaccharie Risacher shot 5-8 from the field for 14 points. Johnson swiped six steals, while Clint Capela had an 11-point, 13-board double-double.
Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 19 points, eight rebounds, and five dimes. RJ Barrett scored 17 on 5-13 from the field, but the Raptors only had four double-digit scorers.
Atlanta now embarks on a five-game West Coast road trip with a lot of momentum on their side. The Hawks just wrapped up a six-game win streak less than a month ago.
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