A hotly contested match in Atlanta, where the Knicks chained a second defeat in a row against Hawks led by a Trae Young with 10 assists and above all a Zaccharie Risacher at 33 points!
The Hawks are first in action thanks to the Trae Young – Clint Capela connection. The leader finds his pivot who converts under the circle, but Karl-Anthony Towns sets the sights from long distance and the Knicks do not let Atlanta escape. Zaccharie Risacher returns the favor in the left “corner” and does not yet know that he is going to sign his best game of his very young NBA career. Trae Young infiltrates the New York defense, but the distant address of Jalen Brunson and Towns brings the Knicks back to the score. Zaccharie Risacher responds with a “dunk” on the counterattack and the Hawks are in front (26-22).
Risacher on fire at 3-points!
The Frenchman began to catch fire and continued in the 2nd quarter with a dunk on Miles McBride before following up with an easy lay-up on two Knicks. Atlanta remains aggressive, Towns responds from afar, but Risacher also shines again at 3-points. Brunson allows the Knicks to regain a small lead before the number 1 of the last Draft shows up again behind the arc, followed by his star point guard. At the break, Atlanta maintains its four-point lead (65-61).
Returning from the locker room, the Frenchman, again, scored his 6th 3-point shot and the Hawks remained in front. Young cuts through the opposing defense to find Jalen Johnson, also very inspired (23 points and 15 rebounds). OG Anonuby and Mikal Bridges keep the Knicks in sight, while Atlanta begins to lose balls that Brunson converts at mid-range. At the end of the third quarter, everything had to be done again for the Hawks (89-89).
Risacher clutch, les Hawks solides
The last period is unbreathable, the Hawks offer balls to the Knicks and Josh Hart, then Towns are at the conclusion. New York goes back in front, but Garrison Mathews responds behind the arc. THE momentum begins to tend on the Atlanta side since Risacher wins his duel under the hoop and against Karl-Anthony Towns, to offer Johnson an easy counterattack. The former leader of Wolves is not disturbed and continues his work by responding from afar, followed by McBride, and the gap is only one point.
The two teams go blow for blow and the Knicks pivot, in a great evening, widens the gap by five points. But that's without taking into account the crazy confidence of the Frenchman who, first from 3-pointers, then from mid-distance, allows the Hawks to get back on track! Atlanta finishes off the Knicks with the action of the match at the very end of the game: after a recovered ball, Young steps on the accelerator and takes Capela to the “alley-oop” to ignite the State Farm Arena. There are 46 seconds left, and the Hawks have just signed a fatal 9-1 to win 121-116.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Record evening for Zaccharie Risacher! The Frenchman finally has his benchmark match, early in the season: 33 points at 11/18, including 6 out of 10 from distance! With 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 interceptions and 2 blocks, the former Bourg-en-Bresse player displayed all his talent for four quarters and did not tremble in the face of the incessant attacks from the Knicks. It seems that the winger read the latest NBA “Rookie Ladder” just before the match.
– The Karl-Anthony Towns construction site. With his 34 points (5/9 from afar) and 16 rebounds, the New York pivot was the best player of the Knicks. His ability to create and spread the game changes the face of the Knicks, who are still learning to play with him.
– The opportunistic Hawks on offense. With 58 points in the paint compared to 27, Atlanta dominated under both circles. Another interesting stat: the 27 points scored on the Knicks’ loose balls.
– The skillful Knicks from afar. Number 1 in the NBA at 3-points, Tom Thibodeau's players confirm this status with 46.8% by far last night, at 22 out of 47!
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
