It’s been a good 72 hours in Hawks Land.
The team picked up an unexpected win in Boston in the first Emirates NBA Cup game of the season on Tuesday, and tonight they welcomed back both Trae Young from a one-game absence as well as De’Andre Hunter from a 10-game absence.
The bad news: these Washington Wizards picked up both of their season wins at the hands of the Hawks earlier this season, and so the Hawks would need to focus in and take care of an otherwise struggling team.
After jumping out to an 8-2 lead, the Hawks once again had difficulties defending the three-point line, something that allowed the Wizards to take a 17-13 lead into the first timeout.
The Hawks continued to sputter behind some uncharacteristic turnovers from Trae Young, who amassed four in the first quarter alone. It didn’t help that Kyle Kuzma was once again a man possessed against the Hawks, going 6-for-9 to account for 14 points in the first period.
After one quarter, the Hawks trailed 39-29.
But the Hawks woke up upon the start of the next quarter. Atlanta got their hands on the ball on defense and sprung their transition attack to embark on an 8-0 run.
Atlanta continued to have a vice grip on the Wizards defensively, shutting down any and every offensive set. They held the Wizards to just two made field goals in their first 22 shots from the field.
Here was Jalen Johnson making a timely rotation and stuffing the attempt in the lane.
Dyson Daniels has made a name for himself with steals and deflections, and here was one more example that got him the easiest bucket of his life.
Then Trae Young got really saucy with it.
After giving up 39 points in the first quarter, the Hawks held the Wizards to just 11 points on 5-for-29 (17%) shooting, forcing as many turnovers as field goals given up.
At the half, the Hawks owned a 59-50 lead. Daniels led the Hawks in scoring in the first half with 13 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
The Hawks continued their strong play into the early portion of the third quarter. This Young to Daniels connection is always a welcome sight, especially when it accounts for Young’s 4000th career dime.
The Hawks largely protected a 10-point lead or thereabouts until late in the quarter, when they blew things open behind Dyson Daniels’ game-wrecking behavior on defense.
I mean, just look at this.
The Hawks kept up their dominant stretch to push the lead to 94-75 at the end of the third quarter.
Atlanta didn’t let off the gas either, with De’Andre Hunter coming back into the lineup scorching hot.
Atlanta was absolutely clinical since their lackadaisical first quarter, and they had ballooned the lead into blowout territory by midway through the fourth quarter.
Of course, as part of Emirates NBA Cup play, point differential was a big deal in deciding who advanced in the tournament. For this reason (it seems), Quin Snyder opted to keep his nominal starters in the game well past the point the game looked to be decided.
Towards the end of the game, the Wizards were able to hit some shots on a gassed Hawks starting unit to cut into the lead, but the game was never really in jeopardy.
The game mercifully ended with a 129-117 Hawks win to move them to 6-7 on the season and 2-0 in the NBA Cup. Jalen Johnson had a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Dyson “The Great Barrier Thief” Daniels was the high scorer for the victors with 25 points plus always elite defense, including a notable streak of steals.
The Hawks will now travel to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers Sunday in the start of a long West Coast road trip.
