The Atlanta Hawks acquired an enormous win in opposition to the Phoenix Suns, with out Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter. That meant different gamers needed to step up, and though Trae Younger completed with 43 factors, it was Onyeka Okongwu who stood out on each side of the ball. He completed the sport with 22 factors and 21 factors, and he made historical past with the Hawks with the stat line.
“With 20 factors and 20 rebounds tonight, Onyeka Okongwu turns into the primary Hawks bench participant to file not less than 20 factors and 20 rebounds in a single sport,” wrote Hawks PR on X, previously Twitter.
Okongwu managed the paint all evening for the Hawks, and his versatility on each side of the ball allowed him to achieve success in opposition to the Suns’ bigs. After the sport, Okongwu shared what made him make Hawks historical past.
“I used to be simply aggressive,” Okongwu stated. “We have been lacking a couple of guys, so my crew wanted me to be extra aggressive and I used to be in a position to do sufficient to assist the crew win.”
Okongwu has been strong for the Hawks this season and is splitting minutes with Clint Capela. Though he has handled some accidents all year long, when he has been obtainable, he has achieved a strong job. On offense, he has a pleasant hook shot and may step out and shoot from the perimeter, and on protection, he would not hesitate to protect a number of positions if mandatory.
Onyeka Okongwu posts 20-20 sport in Hawks win
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Head coach Quin Snyder had nothing however good issues to say about Onyeka Okongwu and his play in opposition to the Suns.
“I believed his exercise, each on the offensive and defensive glass, was nice,” Snyder stated. “He was getting rebounds within the crowd, he was maintaining the balls alive. After which we acquired another guys, one who performs this Vit [Krejci] that basically stood out, but it surely was a couple of of them the place we simply acquired our arms on the ball and stored it alive. That aggressive endurance the place you do not compete on a sport or two, however you proceed to compete. While you do this, good issues occur.
Okongwu made some key performs for the Hawks, whether or not it was calling his personal quantity and driving to the lane, discovering his teammates for open photographs or grabbing rebounds round a number of defenders.
“He’s sturdy, so he has house,” Snyder continued. “When he doesn’t have an angle, he has nice contact. He pulls a little bit floater and it is laborious to cease. He shoots it shortly, he is assured in that shot, and we’re assured in his capability to make it. The opposite factor is he has nice arms. It provides loads of info. Possibly he cannot safe the rebound, however he is in a position to tip it in.
“He performed with loads of vitality across the rim,” Trae Younger stated. “He missed a couple of floaters. He made a go that I threw to him firstly of the match and he was a little bit offended with himself. We went to outing and I advised them to maintain feeding him.
Okongwu has been an enormous a part of the Hawks’ second unit all season and he confirmed in opposition to the Suns that he can have a serious impression on the sport.
