The Atlanta Hawks took care of business at home against the Washington Wizards with a 129-117 victory. After two rough losses to a divisional foe, the Hawks got some revenge in the NBA Cup contest.
De’Andre Hunter made his return in a big way off the bench. He played just 21 minutes coming off a knee injury but dropped 22 points and shot 3-5 from beyond the arc. He was decisive and played well off the catch throughout the contest. Jalen Johnson stuffed the stat sheet for 18 points, 13 boards, seven assists, and four blocks. Hunter finished as the second-leading for Atlanta behind Dyson Daniels, who followed up a career-best performance with another strong outing. Daniels scored 25 points on 10-14 shooting and collected another six steals. It is still early, but he is making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player.
Trae Young highlighted Daniels’ defensive performance in his post-game press conference.
“I see first-team defense,” said the Hawks’ star confidently.
The Hawks did not start this game well. Despite putting Washington over the penalty with 9:56 left in the first quarter, Atlanta gave up a 15-6 run to surrender a 22-15 lead. Similar to the previous two matchups, the Wizards started hot from three, hitting 4-5 from downtown. Washington built their lead to 30-12 behind Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole, and Alex Sarr. They were the only three players to score for Washington. Five early Hawks’ turnovers led to five Wizards’ steals, resulting in easy transition buckets. Atlanta fell 39-29 in the opening frame with Washington shooting 15-27 from the field.
The Hawks bounced right back with an 8-0 run to start the second. Onyeka Okongwu, who finished with a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double, prevented Washington from converting any shots near the rim. Young could not find the range with his floater tonight but knocked down a big triple to give his squad a 51-43 lead. From that moment, the Hawks never looked back. They ran away with the second quarter with suffocating defense. The Wizards hit just five shots from the field, lost the quarter 11-30, and Atlanta took a 59-49 halftime lead.
The Hawks continued their second-quarter momentum in the third. They went on a 13-2 run to stretch their lead to 80-62. Okongwu feasted in the paint throughout the frame, and the turnovers that plagued Atlanta in the first quarter were long gone.
Even though the Hawks built a 28-point lead in the fourth, both teams played till the final whistle. Point differential can determine whether a team makes it to the knockout round of the NBA Cup. The young Wizards outplayed the Hawks over the final stretch to cut the deficit under 20 points. Atlanta gave away turnovers inside the final minutes, and Washington took advantage, shrinking the Hawks’ lead to 12.
Clint Capela collected 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Young finished with 18 points (5-18 FG) and nine dimes. Kuzma, Poole, and Sarr led their squad with 24,22, and 20 points, respectively. The second-overall pick added four steals and three blocks in an impressive showing.
The Hawks begin their first West Coast trip of the season Sunday night when they face the Portland Trail Blazers.
