Hawks Game 12: Nov. 13, 2024
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics
Final Score: ATL 117 – BOS 116
Emirates NBA Cup Record: 1-0
The Atlanta Hawks pulled off an impressive win over the Boston Celtics without Trae Young to begin their NBA Cup journey. Atlanta completed a 15-point comeback, down 66-81 in the second half, to stun the defending champions. Onyeka Okongwu, who scored 15 points, delivered a game-winning tip-in with six seconds left, and Jalen Johnson delivered a key stop on Jaylen Brown to seal the victory. The Hawks punished the Celtics on mismatches for 68 paint points and forced them into 20 turnovers.
Dyson Daniels had a career night. Atlanta’s lockdown defender held Jayson Tatum to 20 points on 5-16 shooting and recorded a career-high 27 points. Daniels also added seven assists and six steals, giving him at least six swipes in three straight games. Johnson triple-doubled with 18 points, 10 dimes and 13 rebounds. Head Coach Quin Snyder closed with Larry Nance Jr. at power forward, and he delivered with 19 points on 5-6 shooting from deep. Clint Capela had 18 points and nine boards in just 17 minutes of action.
Brown and Derrick White carried Boston offensively. Brown dropped 37 points, including 20 in the first half, while White knocked down seven triples for 31 points.
Game 13: Nov. 15
Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks
Final Score: WSH 117 – ATL 129
Emirates NBA Cup Record: 2-0
The Hawks moved to 2-0 in the NBA Cup with a win over the Washington Wizards. Despite a poor start with five early live-ball turnovers, Atlanta rebounded quickly after being down 29-39 after the first quarter. A massive 27-6 run in the second frame put the Hawks in front for good. They held Washington to 11 points on five made field goals and won the quarter 30-11 to take a 59-49 lead at halftime. Atlanta stretched its lead out to 28 in the fourth quarter, but a poor final few minutes allowed the Wizards to shrink the Hawks’ point differential. It could come back to bite them in the NBA Cup standings with two games left in the group stage.
De’Andre Hunter returned from a 10-game absence with a bang- 22 points on 7-13 shooting in 21 minutes. Daniels delivered a stellar 25-point, six-steal, two-block performance. Johnson was impressive on the defensive end with four blocks and added 18 points, 13 boards, and seven assists. Capela collected 10 points and 13 rebounds, while Okongwu finished with 13 points, 13 boards, two steals and two blocks. On a night when Young shot just 5-18 from the field, his teammates carried a big scoring load.
Kyle Kuzma got up 28 shots in the contest but only hit 11 for 24 points. Jordan Poole finished with 22 points on 4-9 from deep, while Alex Sarr had the best game of his young career with 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
Game 14: Nov. 17
Atlanta Hawks at Portland Trail Blazers
Final Score: ATL 114- POR 110
The Hawks started their first West Coast season trip with a close loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Neither team played their best basketball in this game. Atlanta started strong with a 25-9 lead, but turnovers led to the Hawks’ downfall. The Trail Blazers took advantage of 25 turnovers to make a comeback. They shrunk Atlanta’s lead to 64-56 at halftime.
The Blazers blitzed the Hawks in the third frame with a massive 17-0 run over six minutes to take a 91-78 lead. Atlanta countered with a turnover-less 15-2 run in the fourth to make a close game down the stretch. Young quickly scored 10 points in the frame and looked ready to close the game for his squad; however, Shaedon Sharpe had other plans. He scored the final 12 points, including two contested threes, to give his team a 112-110 lead. Young had a chance to send the game into overtime or win it with a three, but Toumani Camara forced him to pick up his dribble, leading to a fate-sealing turnover.
Johnson and Young did the heavy lifting for the Hawks, scoring 25 and 29 points, respectively. Daniels hot shooting cooled off for 12 points on 5-17 shooting, and Okongwu recorded a second-straight double-double with 11 points and 11 boards.
Dalano Banton helped keep the Blazers afloat in the first half. He finished with 23 points, while Sharpe led all scorers with 32 points and three steals. Robert Williams III shot 6-6 from the field for 14 points and eight rebounds.
Hawks Are Getting Healthy
Vít Krejčí returned to the Hawks rotation after a nine-game absence in Portland. Kobe Bufkin was listed as doubtful, signaling his return could be imminent, and Bogdan Bogdanović is also expected to be back soon. Bogdanović and Bufkin will provide much-needed ball-handling on the perimeter when Young is off the floor.
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