Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder credited his team for keeping their poise during Sunday’s back-and-forth game against the Charlotte Hornets. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The Atlanta Hawks have had capacity crowds in State Farm Arena on several occasions this season, including for games against the Detroit Pistons (on Tuesday) and the Charlotte Hornets (tonight). For the most part, they have played competitively on their home turf this season. However, an overall home record of 3-4 following a 113-110 victory over Charlotte still leaves Atlanta playing underachieving ball in their own backyard.
On Sunday, against Charlotte, Atlanta got off to a slow start, falling behind by as much as six points before fighting back to take a 28-25 lead after the first quarter. For a team that is 8-3 on the road this season, and that’s without its All-Star point guard Trae Young, the Hawks do not seem to be as focused at home. As of Sunday, the Hawks had the best road record in the Eastern Conference (the Toronto Raptors are 7-3 and the Detroit Pistons are 6-1).
The Hawks finished the game with four players having scored 20 or more points, and five players in double-digits, including 10 points off the bench from point guard Keaton Wallace.
After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder credited his team with “keeping their poise throughout the game” and remaining unselfish.
“We didn’t think we were sharing the ball like we could have at the beginning of the game,” Snyder said.
Charlotte regained a 35-31 lead early in the second quarter and kept an advantage throughout the quarter, ending the first half with a 55-53 lead. With both teams playing without their presumed best players, Charlotte was without guard LaMelo Ball (21 points, nine assists, and six rebounds), and the game was close throughout.
Jalen Johnson (28 points on 11-22 from the field), the Hawks’ leading scorer this season, scored six straight points to help Atlanta regain a 78-77 lead late in the third quarter. Johnson, the previous Eastern Conference Player of the Week, has been a huge reason for the Hawks’ strong play on the road this season, but a career year from first-year Hawk Nickeil Alexander-Walker (19 points, three assists, three rebounds per game) has done just as much to keep Atlanta among the top seven teams in the East.
Alexander-Walker’s three-pointer near the end of the third quarter gave Atlanta a 92-88 lead. Defensive plays from Dyson Daniels (22 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals) and Mouhamed Gueye, and a pair of three-pointers by Wallace contributed to Atlanta’s largest lead of the game, 101-92, with nine minutes remaining in the game. Alexander-Walker (23 points, four assists, five rebounds) made a couple of late-game free throws to help Atlanta secure the victory.
Hawks reserve forward Mouhamed Gueye (above) blocked two shots during the Hawks’ three-point victory over the Hornets on Sunday night. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Gueye, who is averaging a career-high six points off the bench this season, only scored four points tonight, but blocked two shots. He said the entire team understands how to contribute night after night.
“Everybody knows their role, and we’re just a team,” Gueye said in the Hawks locker room after the game. “We just find ways to win.”
Atlanta will be back home a day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, to host former Hawks forward DeAndre Hunter and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
A Duke reunion of sorts: Between the Hawks and Hornets, there were five Duke University basketball players on the court Sunday night. The Blue Devils alumni game featured Hawks star Jalen Johnson and reserve forward Luke Kennard (DNP), as well as Hornets starters Sion James (seven points, six rebounds, three assists in 32 minutes), Mason Plumlee, and Kon Knueppel (28 points).
Former Pebblebrook High School star and Hornets guard Colin Sexton (8, above at free throw line) scored 22 points on Sunday night. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Welcome Home, Colin: Marietta native, former Pebblebrook High School star and McDonald’s All-American Colin Sexton started for Charlotte on Sunday night. In the middle of a steady NBA career, Sexton is averaging 15 points and nearly five assists a game this season. In front of the home crowd on Sunday night, Sexton got the Hornets out to a strong start with nine of his 22 points in the first quarter.
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