The Atlanta Hawks are playing their best basketball of the season. They wrapped up a 124-112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night for their fourth straight win. Dejounte Muray returned to State Farm Arena for the first time since the offseason trade, but Dyson Daniels forced him into many tough shots. Murray finished just 2-15 from the field for seven points but did add five steals and ten assists.
New Orleans suffered its ninth consecutive defeat amidst an injury-riddled campaign. Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado, and Jordan Hawkins all missed this contest. The Hawks went into this game fully healthy. They have seemingly found a rhythm after De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Kobe Bufkin got their legs back after returning from injuries.
Similar to the last game against the Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta did not play its best basketball. The Hawks had 18 turnovers and shot just 10-38 from beyond the arc, but New Orleans only won the three-point battle by nine points. Atlanta dominated the Pelicans, 74-54, in points in the paint and won the glass, 51-41.
The turnover issue reared its head early with three miscues on the Hawks’ first four possessions. Both offenses broke the paint well, getting past each other’s first line of defense. Atlanta built a three-point lead on 8-0 run when Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels collected three steals, leading to easy offense. However, when Trae Young subbed out, the Hawks’ offense stalled and could not sustain the same rim penetration. The Pelicans went on a 10-0 run late in the frame and took a 28-26 lead into the second. Both teams turned the ball over seven times and collected five steals.
After they struggled to close the first, the Hawks’ offense got back on track in the second. Bufkin, who finished with 10 points, played well in the pick-and-roll, getting to the rim for six quick points. However, New Orleans quickly built a 46-37 lead behind Brandon Boston Jr.’s hot shooting and Atlanta’s cold spell from deep. The Hawks were just 3-15 from deep to start the contest, and Trae Young, Hunter, and Bogdanović began this game 1-10 from the field combined. Atlanta closed the deficit to 58-59 at halftime behind Daniels swishing home floaters and picking up the pace after defensive rebounds. The Hawks had 11 first-half turnovers and shot 5-22 from three-point range but only found themselves down one.
Clint Capela had a great defensive game, but he dominated the early part of the third frame with putbacks on offensive rebounds. Young knocked down his first triple to give his squad an 80-73 advantage, and the Hawks built their first double-digit lead with less than a minute remaining in the frame.
New Orleans made a strong run at the beginning of the fourth. Yves Missi’s offensive rebounding and CJ McCollum’s outside shooting cut the deficit to four. However, the Hawks had an immediate counter. Jalen Johnson switched hands mid-air and posterized the Pelicans’ rookie to ignite the crowd. Risacher had a nice finish after a behind-the-back move on Javonte Green to give his squad a 106-96 lead with six minutes left. Hunter closed the game strong, and Young found Daniels and Johnson on alley-oops to seal the victory.
Young still struggled from the field (5-16 FG) but dished out 15 assists and eight boards. Johnson had 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Daniels (8-16 FG) finished with 19 points and four steals. Capela grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds, and Hunter led the team with 22 points off the bench.
McCollum 29 points for the Pelicans, and Missi recorded a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double. Boston added 19 off the bench.
The Hawks can stretch their win streak to five games with a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on the road on Wednesday.
