The 2021 Atlanta Hawks can not seem to distance themselves from a .500 record. The Hawks had another chance on Friday night, as they hosted the Eastern Conference-leading Brooklyn Nets. They ultimately fell short, 113-105, in what was a very entertaining basketball game.
State Farm Arena was electric for most of the night, and when these two teams clash, it gives the aura of playoff basketball. Dating back to last year, the Hawks have now fallen to the Nets four out of five times. Each game has been competitive for the most part, but the Hawks will need to pick up the pace if they want to consider themselves as equals or contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta was in this ball game pretty much the entire way and even led by 11 points at one juncture. It was another dud of a fourth quarter that doomed Atlanta. They shot 6 of 22 in the final frame, and were outscored 24-14. This is a theme that is becoming all too consistent with this year’s Hawks squad, and a bit ironic, considering how the Hawks were praised for their fourth quarter prowess during the second half of last season and their deep playoff run.
Leading the way for Brooklyn was the usual suspects of Kevin Durant and James Harden. Durant poured in 31 points, and Harden finished with a double-double stat line of 20 points and 11 assists. Another cog for the Nets was veteran forward Lamarcus Aldridge. Almost out of basketball completely, due to a heart condition, the former-Texas alum has quietly put together a decent start to the season. He finished with 15 points on 70 percent from the field.
Trae Young led the way for Atlanta as expected, finishing with 31 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds. He did not particularly shoot well, going 10 of 27 from the field overall. Young is in the midst of a great stretch, having now posted a 25-point & 10-assist stat line in seven of eight ball games. John Collins was second on the team with 20 points, and Kevin Huerter kept up his hot play finishing with 19 points on 63.6 percent shooting.
Tempers did flare between Durant and Young at one point during the fourth quarter. Both players were issued technical fouls. Durant and Young both played down the exchange later in post-game interviews.
Next on the slate for the Hawks is a date with the Houston Rockets. The Rockets will visit State Farm Arena, and are on a two-game skid after winning seven-in-a-row. Tipoff is at 7:30pm Monday night. We will have pre-and-post game coverage via our TwitterSpaces show, The Highlight Factory.
