Atlanta makes use of sturdy second half to defeat New Orleans 124-112 to win its fourth straight recreation

The Atlanta Hawks performed effectively final week, however tonight introduced a unique sort of problem. Whereas the Hawks have some excellent wins, they’ve misplaced various video games during which they’d the higher hand, whether or not in expertise, relaxation benefit, or each. The Pelicans entered a protracted shedding streak and after taking part in on the highway in New York final evening, so the Hawks had the benefit over them, particularly with so many accidents they’re nonetheless coping with.

The Hawks answered the decision tonight, even when it wasn’t all the time fairly. They overcame a troublesome first half on offense and performed good protection tonight within the win over the Pelicans, which is now the Hawks’ fourth straight win.

It says so much about this crew that Trae Younger can go 5-16 from the ground and the crew nonetheless wins and shoots over 50% from the ground. Younger completed with 12 factors, 15 assists and eight rebounds and was a team-high +20 when he was on the ground. Younger has been extra of a facilitator this yr and this recreation was an important instance of that.

This successful streak would not be attainable with out the play of De’Andre Hunter and he continued that streak tonight. Hunter got here off the bench to attain 22 factors and shoot 4-7 from three. Atlanta is undefeated this yr when scoring 20 factors. The Hawks bench has been nice throughout this successful streak and Hunter is the principle motive why. The Atlanta bench outscored the New Orleans bench 52-29.

The Hawks bought among the best video games of the yr from Clint Capela, particularly on the glass. Capela grabbed 17 rebounds, together with 5 on the offensive glass. He was additionally sturdy defensively.

Jalen Johnson continues to make his case to be an All-Star. He scored 19 factors, eight rebounds and 5 assists on 9-14 taking pictures.

Dyson Daniels had one in every of his most full video games of the yr. He was a giant impediment on protection in opposition to Dejounte Murray in his return to Atlanta and he scored 19 factors on 8-14 taking pictures from the ground. Murray was the spotlight of the Pelicans offense tonight, however he had a tough evening taking pictures the ball, going 2-15 from the sphere and 1-7 from three. Apart from CJ McCollum (29 factors) and rookie Yves Missi (21 factors and 10 rebounds), New Orleans discovered no coherent assault.

The Hawks completed the sport taking pictures 51% from the sphere, however 26% from three. New Orleans could not reap the benefits of the Hawks’ poor taking pictures evening from three, however different groups have this yr. Atlanta ought to have the ability to shoot higher than tonight.

The Hawks saved their beginning lineup the identical tonight. Trae Younger, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson and Clint Capela had been the primary 5 on the sphere for Atlanta.

New Orleans was shorthanded on this recreation and began Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Javonte Inexperienced, Trey Murphy and Yves Missi.

The primary half was a show of powerful taking pictures from the Hawks, significantly from three,

The Pelicans took an 11-6 lead earlier than the primary timeout and Atlanta responded with an 8-0 run to take a 14-11 benefit. Whereas the primary half was powerful with three photographs, Risacher and Johnson opened the scoring for the evening by hitting two threes.

The Hawks saved their standard rotation within the first half. Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Kobe Bufkin, and Onyeka Okongwu had been the blokes Quin Snyder used off the bench tonight. On the finish of the primary quarter, Atlanta trailed New Orleans 28-26 and was taking pictures 56% from the sphere and 38% from the ground. Johnson led the way in which with seven factors, two rebounds and two assists. The Pelicans got here out with numerous power and had been taking pictures 57% from the sphere and 43% from three to start out the sport.

Neither crew shot the ball significantly effectively within the second quarter, particularly the Hawks. Three-point taking pictures hasn’t been a power of the Hawks up to now this season and that was the case within the second quarter. Younger shot 0-3 from the sphere and didn’t rating within the second quarter, Johnson was 0-4 and Bogdanovic was 0-4. Three of the Hawks’ most vital gamers had been struggling to get issues going and the Pelicans saved them at arm’s size because of 10 factors off the bench from Brandon Boston and 9 from McCollum.

With 2:52 remaining, the Hawks trailed 52-44, however finally put collectively their greatest run of the primary half. They outscored the Pelicans 14-7 within the remaining 2:52 of the primary half and trailed by only one, 59-58, going into the break. The Hawks shot a strong 49% from three, however a disastrous 23% from three. Daniels led the Hawks with 11 factors and Younger had 4 factors, 4 rebounds and 9 assists. He wasn’t scoring effectively, however he discovered guys open, particularly in direction of the tip of the half.

New Orleans shot 49% from the sphere and 31% from three. The distinction within the recreation was that Atlanta shot horribly from threes and missed many open seems.

Each groups struggled to get something going to start out the third, however the Hawks put collectively what was their greatest sequence of the sport gave them the momentum to win. Trailing 71-69, Atlanta went on an 11-2 run in 4 minutes and led New Orleans 80-73 with 2:46 remaining. They continued to place distance between themselves and the Pelicans on the finish of the quarter and led 92-85 going into the ultimate quarter. Hunter had his greatest quarter of the sport within the third.

New Orleans wasn’t going to go away simply and was down by simply 4 with 9:16 to play, however Younger got here again and led a 15-8 run for the Hawks to provide them an 11-point lead with 3:52 to play. A sequence of lobs and dunks from the Hawks sealed the sport they usually gained 124-112 in opposition to the Pelicans.

Atlanta is now 11-11 and has a three-game stretch in opposition to a few of the greatest groups within the NBA. Milwaukee, the LA Lakers and the Nuggets are subsequent up for Atlanta of their quest to maintain their successful streak alive and climb the Jap Convention standings. This crew is taking part in effectively proper now and continues to enhance.