RSS Hawks Team Notes

[Atlanta Hawks]

Bucks at Hawks, MLK Day: start time, TV, streaming, radio, game thread

The Atlanta Hawks (20-24) and the Milwaukee Bucks (17-24) try to honor the legacy of a great leader with the eyes of a nation watching.

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen​

Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Start Time: 1:00 PM EDT

TV: N/A

Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)

Streaming: Peacock streaming service, NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/atla...day-start-time-tv-streaming-radio-game-thread

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks can’t comeback from 0-of-21 start from three in Bucks loss

The Atlanta Hawks suffered their fourth successive loss, and a loss at home on MLK Day on Monday afternoon in a closely fought 112-100 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks’ charge in the fourth quarter, scoring 32 points. Jalen Johnson added 28 points and 16 rebounds. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 21 points, and Bobby Portis scored 19 points.

Off the back of a massive loss against the Boston Celtics, the Hawks welcomed back Dyson Daniels and Luke Kennard to the rotation, while Hawks head coach Quin Snyder made an additional change to the starting lineup by inserting Corey Kispert in place of — the struggling of late — Vit Krejci. CJ McCollum, meanwhile, returned to the bench with Daniels returning.

The story of the first, undoubtedly was the Hawks’ struggles shooting the three-pointer, missing their first 21 attempts from distance — basically going through the entire first half without making a three before McCollum made the Hawks’ first three with 27 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Hawks have looked leggy on jump shots of late — which, they hope, will be helped by a lighter schedule coming up — and Monday afternoon was no exception. Some of these shots they were unlucky not to see go down — the Hawks worked their opportunities well in the first half but had almost nothing to show for it.

The Hawks, finally, found their feet shooting the three-pointer in the second half, but did so as the Bucks — and Myles Turner — briefly found their own form shooting three, keeping the lead around 20 points in the beginning stages of the third quarter. A 10-0 run brought the Milwaukee lead down to 13 points, before an 18-4 run brought the lead below single digits — hope had returned. The Bucks looked as though they had stabilized in the fourth quarter, taking a 13-point lead in the early exchanges in the fourth quarter after a Kevin Porter Jr. and-one.

An Alexander-Walker brought the Milwaukee lead down to nine points with 6:57 remaining (leading to a timeout), and from this point forward it was the Alexander-Walker and McCollum show. Alexander-Walker would take the starring role, igniting for five threes in the fourth quarter, and his shot-making was instrumental to the Atlanta comeback.

McCollum chipped in too and, starting from that 6:57 mark on that Alexander-Walker three, combined with Alexander-Walker to score the next 24 points the Hawks scored — finally broken by a three from Jalen Johnson with 1:10 remaining (from which point forward, normal service was resumed between Alexander-Walker and McCollum).

These baskets from Alexander-Walker (especially) and McCollum brought the Hawks back within the game, and Atlanta faithful was rewarded with a clutch game down the stretch. Let’s look at how it unfolded and where the game was lost on this occasion.

Down four points with just over two and a half minutes remaining, Alexander-Walker continues his fourth quarter effort by coming off of a pin down set by Onyeka Okongwu, coming around the screen, receiving the ball, and rising into the three:

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A good switch by Porter Jr. here to get a good contest. It’s just an even better shot by Alexander-Walker, and a good screen from Okongwu to facilitate it.

On the probe by Porter Jr., Dyson Daniels does an excellent job defensively to get through the Antetokounmpo screen and contest the shot, forcing the Milwaukee miss, and now, giving the Hawks a chance to take the lead:

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Just brilliant on-ball defense from Daniels, especially to get through the screen and stay with Porter Jr.

After two missed free throws by Johnson — denying a great opportunity to give the Hawks their first lead since the first half — and a missed shot by Antetokounmpo, the Hawks take the lead thanks to made free throws from McCollum. This was short-lived, as the threat of the Antetokounmpo screen (which he slips) puts Daniels behind the play, and forces McCollum to switch from Green to Porter Jr. Daniels switches to Green, but it’s not enough to prevent Green draining his sixth three of the game:

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It’s a well worked play from the Bucks, and the slip from Antetokounmpo really puts Daniels behind the play, who likely expected having to go around the stationary Antetokounmpo on the screen.

The Milwaukee lead itself was, briefly, short-lived, as McCollum draws the Bucks’ defense in the corner and kicks the ball out to Johnson above the break, who rises into the three to give the Hawks a 105-104 lead with 1:11 remaining:

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It’s a good job by McCollum, operating in a tight space in the corner — with Daniels keeping Porter Jr. close-by — and another shot that is well contested by Porter Jr. Just another better shot made by the Hawks, in this case, by Jalen Johnson.

The Bucks would trade another blow to the Hawks’ newly found lead, with the Bucks using the threat of the two-man between Antetokounmpo and Green (which yielded a lot of success in this game) to open up an avenue offensively. In this case, the threat of a Green three prompts McCollum to chase around the screen to cover Green opens up the roll for Antetokounmpo. When Porter Jr. slips the pass to his roller, it prompts Johnson to slide over to plug the gap. This opens up Portis in the corner, and good use of a fake sends Johnson into the Hawks’ bench, while Portis hits the three to give the Bucks the lead once again:

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Portis is shooting over 47% from three this season; it’s hard to blame Johnson a ton for committing to the challenge on Portis here. Prior to that, the Bucks run the play exactly as they should through Giannis and Green — it was their most consistent avenue to score, and with Green shooting as he did in this game the Hawks couldn’t afford to be burned by another three from him.

Faced with a favorable switch onto Ryan Rollins, Johnson looks to take it to the chest of Rollins, but as he bounces into Rollins the force of the bump knocks the ball loose and picked up by Antetokounmpo, who pushes the ball in transition and finishes at the rim to give the Bucks a four point lead with 36 seconds remaining, and an Atlanta timeout:

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A tough break for Johnson, who on the last two possessions was sent to the shops by Portis for the three and then turns the ball over for a costly fastbreak basket (and, arguably, lucky not to be called for the foul on Antetokounmpo).

A tough, fading shot from McCollum at the rim out of the timeout brings the Hawks back within two, and once the Bucks get past half-court the fouling game begins. Kyle Kuzma hits both free throws to restore the four-point lead, and the Hawks take their final timeout. Out of which, Daniels (who was a threat for the Bucks inbounding the ball and then cutting), delivers the ball to Alexander-Walker back on the perimeter, who hits the three to bring the lead to one point:

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The play provided an insight to how the Hawks were willing to play this one out: everything rode on this three. A quick two — which Daniels could have driven to the rim — and the Hawks can still play the foul game. Missing the three would have ended the game there and then. Fortunately for the Hawks, Alexander-Walker had the hot hand, and he keeps the Hawks’ hope alive:

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A very quick foul on Ryan Rollins gives the Hawks plenty of time to get down the court — no matter how Rollins shoots from the line — and get a chance for a decent shot. Rollins splits the pair, meaning even just a two would give the Hawks a chance to send the game to overtime. Johnson inbounds the ball to McCollum, who brings the ball up the floor, gets stuck, stumbles, and puts up a tough shot which is missed, and the game comes to an empty end:

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It’s a horrible possession for McCollum, who had a good fourth quarter right up this point. He just gets stuck and has to find a way to get the ball anywhere, away from the situation he found himself in. For one of Johnson, or, especially, Alexander-Walker to not get the final shot is tough for the Hawks. Alas, this was the way of things, and the Hawks’ comeback from a terrible shooting half falls agonizingly short.

Asked about the final possession, Quin Snyder discussed that while the Hawks didn’t have a timeout these are scenarios they try to prepare for. Snyder was pleased with the Hawks’ spacing on the play and believed it just unfortunate that the ball was tipped away.

“We didn’t have any timeouts and those are situations you work on in practice, and it was one of the ones we had touched,” said Snyder of the final possession. “Really trust CJ with the ball and thought we got into a position where we were going to get a good shot: either he was going to get one or he was going to kick it out, and the ball just got tipped. It’s hard to fault. I should preface it by saying it’s not just one play, but we actually executed. Sometimes you do that and don’t get the right result, but the floor was open, we had guys spaced, JJ was on the trail. The ball just got tipped.”

Nickeil Alexander-Walker provided a more detailed perspective of the final play and his perspective of it, and how the play began to unravel before his eyes.

“The last play I know coach had a call,” began Alexander-Walker. “I was running to the corner to be prepared for said call. CJ was coming down. I was waiting for the action to begin. Based on the spacing, I was hesitant to continue just because I guess the live read was different from the call. It was just about me staying spaced and being ready. The help guy gambled — and I was kind of shocked that he did just with it being Corey, and usually in late game you want to stay as solid as you can be. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the shot we wanted.”

As Snyder mentioned, the Hawks losing this game went beyond this missed shot from McCollum. It’s hard to look anywhere else other than the Hawks’ first half shooting: 1-of-22 from three (0-of-21 to start). By the end of the first half, the Bucks had eight three-pointers (outscoring the Hawks 24-0 in that department) and led by 16 points. Despite this, Snyder was pleased with how the Hawks continued to play the right way on both ends of the floor.

“It was our whole team,” said Snyder of the Hawks’ shooting struggles. “I think we were 1-of-21 from three — we’re better shooters than that. We were getting great looks. It’s really easy when that happens to stop doing the things that got us those shots. You can lose your resolve to keep playing that way. That was a big topic for us at the half: ‘Let’s keep doing what we’re doing, eventually we’re going to make some shots.’ When we score 72 points in the second half, 33 assists on 39 field goals, that’s how we want to play. If some of those shots go in it’s a different ball-game. Those are the things that are hard to control: whether the ball goes in. What we can control is the kind of shots we’re getting, and we were getting great looks — we were open.

“Having said that, it’s very easy — when you’re not seeing the ball go in the basket — to let up, get frustrated, and it carries over to the defensive end. That didn’t happen either. Holding a team like that to what we did and just continuing to grind and play, in spite of the fact we were missing shots, gave us an opportunity to stay in the game until we did make some. This is one of the games you wish you got the affirmation of a win, but I think our guys took a big step as far as their connectivity and how we need to play. I thought we ran well, even late in the game, and a couple of shots that went in that Milwaukee shot that you tip your hat — they’re not easy shots. What we take from this is how we play, if we continue to play that way the scoreboard will reflect it.”

“The good thing about it is we kept shooting, despite all the misses,” added Jalen Johnson. “That’s tough, and rare to go for 0-for-21, it’s unlike us. Sometimes, you’ve got to adjust. We came out in the second half and started making shots.”

The Hawks shot 11-of-20 from three in the second half, with Alexander-Walker shooting 5-of-6 from three in the fourth quarter alone, describing how the Hawks’ shooting would eventually even out. He also outlined his belief in how the Hawks’ energy and their approach to their play would be a dictating factor in the Hawks’ shooting and general play.

“It goes back to the law of averages of basketball and understanding the realities of the game,” said Alexander-Walker. “You’re not going to make shots all the time. Sometimes the ones that feel good miss, sometimes the ones that feel nasty go in somehow. That was the tale of the night, but we found a way to chip away at it. We understood a lot of shots we were getting were good shots. One thing I did learn and could feel: despite the shots going in or going out — whatever the game was giving us — our energy and mentality towards it will change everything. I feel the game follows the energy, and our energy changed our — I want to say — spirit, to a degree… You can feel it more in the second half than the first half. The first half, we were getting great looks. We make those shots, maybe it’s a different outcome. Nonetheless, woulda, coulda, shoulda.

“The main thing is our energy is what gave us a fighting chance, and we played through mistakes and the game went up and down, and they responded to our run. We threw another punch, and those are the things that carry on for the rest of the 37-something games (remaining in the season).”

The Hawks were unlucky in the first half, it must be said. They missed a lot of threes that on different nights would go in — to shoot 0-of-21 for, basically, an entire half is almost unheard of (the Pacers came close this season, shooting 1-of-20 in a half). Despite these struggles shooting the three, there were some strong, solid individual games from the Hawks.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s game in the second half was transformative in this game. Often this season, Alexander-Walker has stepped up in the fourth quarter for the Hawks and Monday afternoon was another such example. Having begun the game 2-of-10 from three through three quarters, Alexander-Walker finished shooting 43% from three — an achievement given how he began shooting in this game. While Johnson hit a big three, and McCollum hit some tough shots too — his threes galvanized the Hawks in this game. Alexander-Walker finished with 32 points on 9-of-20 from the field, 7-of-16 from three, and 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

Alexander-Walker and McCollum went on a combined run in the fourth quarter, scoring 24 straight points between them, and the ever-insightful Alexander-Walker outlined the adjustment playing next to McCollum.

“I think it’s just about reading points of attack and playing off-ball with movement,” said Alexander-Walker. “I know in the first half I had drove, he had hit to me, set a screen, then I got stopped, he peeled off, I hit him, he was able to drive a close-out and get a layup — small things like that. The more we use our skillset and tools together, I feel it’s going to benefit us. There was times where it did, and it’s just about communication and learning CJ. He’s also learning us and what our system is and where he can be effective. I’m trying my best to be better at communicating. The tough thing it is (me) being in year 7, and him being in year 13/14 — I’m not trying to come off as the guy that’s talking down to someone who has done this before, but still having that open communication and saying ‘Hey, trust me,’ or ‘What do you see here?’ Just getting the feel.”

I believe this is the play Alexander-Walker is referring to:

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As the relationship grows, there’ll probably be times where McCollum is able to recognize Alexander-Walker’s movement to the corner and find him there when the layup isn’t as open as it was in this instance.

During an interview prior to the game, McCollum himself promised Peacock that he would shoot better in this game, and he did. McCollum scored 17 points on 5-of-11 from the field, 2-of-4 from three, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. If Johnson’s missed free throws are something that is remembered from this game, there’s a whole different bracket for McCollum’s final possession of the game. Irrespective of the fact there was no timeout available, it was a bad possession that fell in McCollum’s hands, and a costly one — but a better game overall.

Johnson’s contributions to this game were, by no means, small, scoring 28 points on 11-of-24 from the field, 3-of-6 from three, 16 rebounds, and six assists. It was good to see Johnson be a little more forceful attacking the rim in this game; the Boston game was tough for many reasons, one of them being that between all the Boston makes, the Hawks couldn’t get out and run. Johnson was able to do that a little more in this game and also find his feet with three-pointer in this game.

“JJ just continued to play,” said Snyder of Johnson’s shooting. “He missed a couple early on that he can make, and he didn’t get discouraged at all.”

It’s hard not to think about Johnson missing those two free throws in the fourth quarter, which would have given the Hawks their first lead since the first half (McCollum would right this wrong moments later to give the Hawks the lead). In a game as close as this was down the stretch, those moments can go a long way.

Dyson Daniels had a solid return to action: 17 points on 8-of-16 from the field to go with nine rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals. Daniels was excellent defensively, and he was able to get on the offensive glass in the first quarter for some put-backs, and some great cuts in this game too. That said, it’s so hard to ignore his three-point shooting — the Bucks were more than happy to let him shoot, and even though there were possessions where Daniels could have shot the three (kicking it to another teammate instead, there were also possessions where he was so open that he had no choice but to shoot it, and he missed his two attempts. Daniels last made a three on December 14th, and has missed his last 19 attempts from three when he has shot.

Late in the game, Snyder made the ‘offense-defense’ switch for the last possession of the game, and it was Kispert to come in for Daniels. It’s just tough that it’s come to this — perhaps after the season there’ll be an explanation behind Daniels’ incredible regression from three. He’s really solid everywhere else — and great defensively — but it’s difficult from three.

Still, pretty good games from those three players, led by the efforts of Alexander-Walker.

“We had a number of guys, from a statistical standpoint, had good numbers but I also thought that none of them were thinking that way when they were playing,” said Snyder. “They were connected, and those things happen naturally when you’re playing as a team and playing the way we want…”

Onyeka Okongwu had a difficult game: four points on 0-of-6 shooting from the field and 0-of-4 from three, scoring all four of his points from the free throw line — just a difficult game for Okongwu, his hook shots just weren’t falling, and he wasn’t able to get deep enough inside, nor get amongst the offensive rebounding for his own offense, but did help contribute for others with his four offensive rebounds.

Corey Kispert didn’t add a whole lot more than Vit Krejci in the starting lineup, scoring two points on 1-of-4 shooting and 0-of-3 from three in (…drumroll!) 20 minutes — that magical 18-22-ish minutes for the starting small forward spot. A return to the bench did not solve Krejci’s shooting struggles, shooting 0-of-6 from the field and three — now shooting 14-of-49 from three (28.6%) in the month of January.

All in all, a solid comeback from a 23-point hole and a 0-of-21 start from three. Alexander-Walker was excellent in the second half (28 of his 32 points coming in the second half), Johnson was much more impactful than he has been lately, and Dyson Daniels was solid too. The Hawks executed well down the stretch, but that three from Portis followed by the Johnson turnover put the Hawks on the back foot, and when Alexander-Walker gave the Hawks a chance to tie or win the game, the last possession was an unfortunate dud.

The Hawks (20-25) are now on a four-game losing streak and head to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies (18-23) on Wednesday night. The game is Memphis’ first game back on home soil since their games in Berlin and London — perhaps a good time as any to play a Grizzlies side adjusting back to a vastly different time zone.

Until next time!

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/anal...cks-milwaukee-nba-quotes-video-final-analysis

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

The season has spiraled out of control — here’s what comes next

A season for the Hawks that started with so much promise has quickly turned into a nightmare. I wrote last month that the season was close to being flushed down the drain for good if they didn’t improve on three key areas.

They didn’t improve on any of those three key areas.

Let’s list off all of the things that have gone horribly wrong this year:

• Trae Young entered the season without a contract extension he desired. Then he missed a month and a half of action with a knee injury suffered in the fifth game. And finally, the organization (with help from Young’s agency) decided the time was right to move on.

Regardless of how you felt about Young, it was always going to be an extremely difficult pivot midseason when so many resources over so many years had gone into building around him.

One extra note: the centerpiece of the Young trade to Washington is now public enemy number one to the fanbase after his last second gaff and general ball dominance. So, even the pivot has been fruitless.

• Kristaps Porzingis was confident preseason that his bout with post-viral syndrome/postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) was in the rearview mirror. It was not. Most recently, he’s been out nursing an injury to his Achilles. To date, Porzingis has only played 413 total minutes and 17 games out of a possible 45. The all-in gamble on his health came up bust.

• Jalen Johnson’s growing list of deficiencies on defense have been magnified with the absence of Porzingis. Has the tradeoff between his offensive growth for defensive regression been worth it? That’s at least a valid question to ask for what this team needs.

• As an undersized 5, Onyeka Okongwu had begun to play the 4 part of the time — especially when sharing the floor with Porzingis. The plan was to make him a flexible third big man, splitting his time between both frontcourt positions while coming off the bench to limit his minutes.

Instead, he’s estimated to have played 95% of his minutes at center (per basketball-reference), is posting by far a career-low offensive rebound rate, and has been subject to an atrocious -12 on-off +/- per 100 possessions.

The lineups he’s been tasked to anchor defensively haven’t help and neither has playing the 24th most minutes in the league this year, somehow just fourth (!) on the team. The plus-minus metric to date is a statistical anomaly given his track record in previous seasons, but clearly his level of play has dropped.

• He’s a genuinely impactful defender now, but Zaccharie Risacher didn’t take the step forward offensively all of us had hoped. Not even close, in fact.

• Dyson Daniels, now the team’s starting point guard who has admittedly come on offensively, hasn’t made a three since December 14.

With the exception of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, you can point to every one of the Hawks’ top eight or nine players and argue that their impact has been levels below what was expected of them.

The Hawks get out-physicaled (I don’t care that it’s not a word) on a nightly basis. They can’t rebound. They can’t even defend in transition despite being a shockingly bad offensive rebounding team*.

*Sidenote: often teams prioritize one of those areas over the other, but you really shouldn’t be bad at both. Either send bodies to the glass or get back on defense. The Hawks, worryingly, do neither.

The heavy minutes load on Johnson, Daniels, Okongwu, and Alexander-Walker is clearly showing a major toll. They’ve been blown out at home more times than I can count, including a calamitous 43-point deficit at one point in a 26-point beatdown at the hands of the Boston Celtics last week.

Even the close games aren’t going their way. The team has been dreadful in clutch situations since the start of December.

The Hawks started the season 8-4 in clutch games (any game within 5 points with <5 mins remaining).

They've gone 1-8 since. They're the only team in the NBA with one (or fewer) clutch win since the start of December.

— Wes (@bloghawk) January 20, 2026

Finally, as of Tuesday afternoon, the team is just barely clinging onto 10th in the standings, with the 11th and 12th place Bucks and Hornets respectively vying for that final Play-In Tournament.

From visions of a top-four conference finish to out of the postseason entirely would be a humiliating end to a season of collapses.

---

The team is a mess, and any hopes of being the next Indiana Pacers are over.

The team was projected to win 46.5 games (per basketball-reference), and they’re on pace to win a full 10 games fewer than that (roughly 36.5). Yes, the Hawks still have 37 games remaining, the Eastern Conference isn’t exactly a juggernaut, and the schedule gets easier after the All-Star break, but it will be way too little too late.

I do think they’ll make the Play-In Tournament at least and have a puncher’s chance at entering the playoff bracket.

But for what? A sweep at the hands of the Detroit Pistons? Yawn.

So now where do they go? For me, here are the biggest areas to monitor going forward:

Finding a franchise center​

The trade deadline is on the near horizon. I have to imagine the decision makers have been working the phones heavy in wake of the wildly disappointing performance of the team. We’ve heard the Hawks linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo (who is now reportedly off the market), Anthony Davis (likely not happening with him nursing yet another injury), and other bigs who can fill in the huge physicality and rebounding gaps in the team.

This is almost certainly the end of the road for the persistently unavailable free-agent-to-be Kristaps Porzingis. I don’t foresee any team offering him a multi-year contract given his injury and illness recurrences — especially not the Hawks.

And Okongwu’s overburdening was discussed above — I still see him as a quality backup big on a friendly contract but nothing more.

Atlanta needs to find a dependable center who can anchor the defense, clear out space for rebounds, and provide a level a physicality the team needs (let’s just move past the fact that Atlanta had a real opportunity to do so two drafts ago).

Could they use their projected cap space this summer to sign Isaiah Hartenstein, likely the best center in the upcoming free agent market? That’s one thought. Or they could target someone else by trade.

But this, to me, is the most pressing issue given that the Hawks are headed for a ninth straight bottom half of the league finish in defensive rating.

Draft acquisitions​

The one thing that has gone right has been the equally ugly collapse of the Milwaukee Bucks in addition to the (somewhat predictable) dreadful performance of the New Orleans Pelicans. More than halfway through the season, the best of both superpick acquired at the draft last year looks even better now than then.

It’s unlikely the Pelicans will finish with the worst record in the NBA given the many tanking teams just ahead of them and their own lack of incentive to tank. But all it takes is a few lucky ping pong bounces to possibly transform this franchise with a premium talent.

With the Cleveland Cavaliers also under performing relative to preseason expectations, the pick swap they picked up through the De’Andre Hunter trade could land them a first-round pick in the teens.

It’s debatable that the Hawks focused a bit too much on youth over experience this past offseason, but with these two picks in a strong draft, it’s still a very viable avenue to add cheap — and possibly high-end — talent.

Assess whether Snyder is the right person for the job​

Here is the elephant in the room.

Let me start by saying coaching in the NBA is an incredibly difficult job, and that so much of the position happens behind closed doors. You need to manage rich and famous NBA player egos, and navigate the politics of communicating with the media, one’s front office, and one’s ownership group.

Also, of course, comes the Xs and Os portion of the job. Implementing your system of basketball tactics and strategies — all that good stuff.

Putting a good product on the floor is clearly the most visible part of it all. And I’m not here to judge head coach Quin Snyder on anything but what the eyes can see.

One can argue this season’s roster isn’t fit to succeed (although bettors and oddsmakers certainly thought so preseason). One can are argue injuries have derailed the initial plan (although that hasn’t stopped the Celtics, Nuggets, and others from overcoming major injuries).

One can no longer argue that Snyder has elevated the individual play of players — as detailed above — or the team writ large.

Wins and losses are inarguable, and when a coach underperforms relative to a team’s record, they tend to get the hook. This is just a universal truth throughout the history of the NBA.

Lloyd Pierce fell fate to that very scenario. Once the goalposts moved from player development to contention, his 14-20 record halfway through the 2020-21 season sealed his fate. Snyder’s 20-25 record to date looks eerily similar to Pierce’s record then and Nate McMillan’s 29-30 record in 2022-23 (although both previous coaches had some level of fallout in the locker room).

Maybe it’s best to wait until the end of the season for the higher ups to assess this situation. And if a different direction is desired, there will likely be a great availability of candidates to replace him in the offseason.

But a real, honest assessment needs to be made before tipping off next season lest we end up in the same place this time next year.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/opin...-analysis-opinion-quin-snyder-draft-breakdown

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks at Grizzlies: start time, TV, streaming, radio, game thread

The Atlanta Hawks’ (20-25) desperate search for a win heads to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies (18-23).

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen​

Location: FedExForum, Memphis, TN

Start Time: 8:00 PM EDT

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE)

Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)

Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network app, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/atla...ies-start-time-tv-streaming-radio-game-thread

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks break losing streak after nail-biting 124-122 win against Grizzlies

The Atlanta Hawks were in Memphis on Wednesday evening to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Hawks came in looking for anything to work as they were riding a four-game losing streak after suffering a tough defeat against the Milwaukee Bucks on MLK Day.

As for the Grizzlies, they’re coming off a win against the Orlando Magic in London, and they got Ja Morant back after he missed time with an injury.

For the Hawks, they were still without Zaccharie Risacher and Kristaps Porzingis, as they are set to be re-evaluated sometime next week.

It was not a good start for the Hawks, as they went down 12-1 early, and couldn’t get a bucket to fall. The shots eventually started to go down, and Onyeka Okongwu’s two three-pointers helped them get back into it.

Big O feeling it early pic.twitter.com/2MLJQhHqT6

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

Once Okongwu started to get into a rhythm, Jalen Johnson followed suit with a few shots of his own.

JJ no hesitation 3 pic.twitter.com/CvrcLgbDaA

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

The defense took it up a notch in the quarter as well, and Mouhamed Gueye put his imprint on the game to eventually give the Hawks the lead.

Great help defense from Mo on this possession pic.twitter.com/i54HhysLkO

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

It was a homecoming for Luke Kennard as he got to face his former team, and he made it worth his while in this one, knocking down shot after shot. Going into the second, the Hawks trailed 32-31.

Luke back in Memphis getting buckets pic.twitter.com/S2Gkc7mX2N

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

Luuuuke is 4-4 with 10 PTS pic.twitter.com/K1wocNLe7p

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

Kennard continued to light it up going into the second, and it was almost as if he couldn’t miss. (He couldn’t)

LUKE AGAIN pic.twitter.com/FakZUwTN8i

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

The Grizzlies and Hawks got into a little of a squirmish in the second that involved Morant and Gueye, and they were both assessed technical fouls.

Christian Koloko got his first minutes on the Hawks and made an immediate impact with a huge dunk.

Welcome to Atlanta, Christian! pic.twitter.com/zrGv6OYsZc

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

Johnson turned into a quarterback in the second and threw a perfect pass down court to Vit Krejci for a layup. While he was making opportunities for others, he also got his own in transition.

Jalen looking like Fernando Mendoza on Monday night pic.twitter.com/fLu7mrPZtv

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

That's what we like to see JJ pic.twitter.com/6CvWy0ys3y

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

The Hawks were able to grab the lead midway through the quarter and extended it late. After a rough start in the first half, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was able to finally get a shot to go from deep.

Keil quick triple ️ pic.twitter.com/TI8rJYvwQS

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

Johnson ended the half strong, going to the rim on Jaren Jackson Jr., and the Hawks went into halftime leading 66-59.

JJ hang time pic.twitter.com/aXiwcKM21f

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

The Hawks did not start off the second half as they wanted to, and the Grizzlies tied the game early. The Hawks didn’t let it bother them, and Corey Kispert gave them the lead back.

Corey connects on his 2nd three of the night pic.twitter.com/1zyA67x7Nz

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

CJ McCollum found Gueye for an easy dump off into a floater.

Nice pocket pass from CJ to Mo pic.twitter.com/Cbi9JDMHAn

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

The Grizzlies started to pull away just a little bit, but the Hawks kept it close by continuing to execute on offense. The Hawks were active on the boards on this play, and it got Okongwu the bucket plus the foul to cut down their deficit.

Mo crashes for the OREB and feeds Big O for the and-1! pic.twitter.com/afqqyGoM9H

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

If the Hawks could find Kennard on every play, it would’ve done wonders, because he couldn’t miss through the third quarter. He even turned defense into offense with a steal, finding McCollum for a three-pointer.

Luke keeps the flame lit pic.twitter.com/V04PSVlhfD

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

Luke steal leads to a CJ step-back 3 pic.twitter.com/C8HLkK1nyu

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

The Hawks took the lead at one point late in the quarter, but Morant put the Grizzlies back on top going into the fourth, leading 95-94.

Vit Krejci knocked down a three-pointer in transition to tie the game early in the fourth.

Transition Heat Czech pic.twitter.com/UL2Ag42ndW

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

Nobody could stop Johnson in his tracks on this transition play, and the only thing the Grizzlies could do was try to foul him. Unfortunately for them, he still made the dunk.

JJ roaring down the tracks pic.twitter.com/SVSo1Xhvaq

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

Koloko continued to show his impact in his first game and knocked down a big three-pointer to give the Hawks the lead.

Loco for Koloko pic.twitter.com/ZuRIEzKQU7

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

The Grizzlies took the lead after this, but not for long. Johnson turned defense into offense and found Alexander-Walker in the corner for a three-pointer, giving the Hawks a four-point lead.

JJ picks off the pass and finds NAW for three ️ pic.twitter.com/IejXH0hjVI

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

The Grizzlies fought back, but the Hawks continued to make the right plays when they needed them.

YEAH JJ pic.twitter.com/CmEJPqGkka

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 22, 2026

With seconds remaining and the Hawks up two, Johnson missed the jumper to give them a four-point lead. The Grizzlies grabbed the rebound and didn’t call a timeout, so this was going to be the game. Morant took the ball and fumbled it for a minute, and had to chuck up a three-pointer at the buzzer that didn’t drop. With that, the Hawks were able to break their four-game winning streak and get back in the win column.

Johnson finished with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists; Kennard finished with 18 points, and Okongwu finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Hawks will be back in action on Friday against the Phoenix Suns.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/reca...ter-nail-biting-124-122-win-against-grizzlies

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks rally in Memphis, defeat Grizzlies behind Johnson’s all-around night

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Atlanta Hawks showed resilience, poise, and just enough late-game execution to slip past the Memphis Grizzlies, 124–122, grinding out one of their most satisfying road wins of the season. Atlanta

After absorbing an early punch from a fired-up FedExForum crowd, Atlanta settled in, leaned on its versatility, and delivered when it mattered most exactly the kind of performance Hawks fans have been waiting to see after being on a four-game losing streak.

Atlanta was powered by a monster all-around night from Jalen Johnson, who was everywhere on the floor. Johnson attacked mismatches, cleaned the glass, and facilitated offense in transition, finishing just shy of a triple-double with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, setting the tone for the Hawks’ aggressive approach.

“I thought our group showed real toughness tonight. Memphis made multiple runs, the crowd was into it, and we didn’t blink. Jalen set the tone with his force and competitiveness, and we trusted each other late. Those are the kinds of wins that build you — especially on the road,” said head coach Quinn Snyder.

Whenever Memphis threatened to seize control, Johnson answered whether with a strong finish at the rim or a timely defensive play that swung momentum back Atlanta’s way. His clutch drive late in the fourth quarter ultimately sealed the victory.

The Hawks didn’t rely on just one option. Nickeil – Alexander- Walker orchestrated the offense and made key plays down the stretch, while Atlanta’s supporting cast chipped in with timely shooting and interior toughness. The Hawks consistently punished Memphis on second-chance opportunities and executed with greater composure in late-clock situations.

Inside, Atlanta’s bigs held their ground, limiting easy looks and forcing Memphis into contested finishes a subtle but decisive factor in a game decided by just two points. Onyeka Okongwu delivered 18 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, while Luke Kennard spaced the floor with 18 points, including four three-pointers.

Memphis countered with strong production from Ja Morant, who pressured Atlanta’s defense all night with his speed and playmaking. Morant finished with 23 points and 12 assists as the Grizzlies surged in the third quarter and carried momentum into the fourth.

But late missed opportunities and Atlanta’s calm execution at the free-throw line proved costly. Memphis even held a slim lead late in the final period, yet a desperation three from Morant at the buzzer rimmed out, sealing the Hawks’ hard-earned victory.

Atlanta is 21-25 on the season as they are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/anal...johnson-jalen-analysis-stats-recap-final-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks survive another clutch game, defeat Suns 110-103

The Atlanta Hawks were at home on Friday evening to take on the Phoenix Suns. The Hawks were coming off a clutch win two days ago against the Memphis Grizzlies, and hoping to continue that momentum against one of the better teams in the Western Conference.

The last time these two teams faced off, it was a comeback thriller for the Hawks, as they won after overcoming a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Onyeka Okongwu got things started for the Hawks with a three-pointer.

O starts the scoring with a 3

It's his 88th 3 on the season, tied for most by a center on one season in Hawks history pic.twitter.com/eZnoEsAK1N

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

The Hawks got into transition early, and Jalen Johnson found Corey Kispert for a three-pointer.

JJ creating in transition is a thing of beauty pic.twitter.com/Qm2AWYk01c

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

The Hawks were being rewarded for their defense on the other end, and pulled away slightly in the first for a minute. The transition points continued to pile up for the Hawks, and Johnson took this one for himself.

JJ with AUTHORITY pic.twitter.com/3zG4odKI27

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

The Hawks continued to create easy opportunities for themselves, and it was even scoring throughout. The Suns started to make some shots late and ended up taking the lead late. The Hawks trailed 31-27 going into the second.

Luke Kennard got it going early in the second for the Hawks with two three-pointers and helped them take back the lead.

Luke letting that thang fly pic.twitter.com/OdAhhoteVM

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

Nickeil Alexander-Walker absorbed contact on this play in transition to get the layup.

Nickeil steal and toughhh finish in traffic pic.twitter.com/0zZWLVsq5V

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

The Hawks were able to string together a few stops throughout the quarter, and capitalized on the other end to help extend their lead. It was the CJ McCollum show down the stretch of the first half, and he was able to get almost any shot he wanted.

CJ shook him pic.twitter.com/unWO7Mt4Qi

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

Alexander-Walker joined in on the fun with McCollum, and both were able knock down three-pointers late in the game.

Back-to-back triples to end the half by NAW & CJ pic.twitter.com/TfT8MFgtoT

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

The Hawks went into halftime with a 64-59 lead.

The threes kept raining for the Hawks to start the second half, and back-to-back shots from Okongwu and Alexander-Walker helped them take a double-digit lead at one point.

OO & NAW drill 3s to begin the third! pic.twitter.com/ibPXDUVQ4J

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

The Hawks maintained the lead for a little while, but the Suns came storming back and went on a run themselves. It was the turnovers that doomed the Hawks in the third, and the Suns found every way to capitalize on the other end.

The Hawks kept battling late in the third, and they had to lead with their defense. Christian Koloko played some good minutes against the Grizzlies, and he did the same in this game.

Koloko hustle block pic.twitter.com/6j2HZ0UhSy

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

Kennard kept shooting the lights out and helped the Hawks stay in the game.

Luuuke bottoms pic.twitter.com/xInlgh0kZV

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

The turnovers continued to hurt the Hawks, and they ended the quarter with more turnovers than field goals made. Going into the fourth, the Hawks trailed 91-84. One thing to take note of for the Hawks was Devin Booker going down late in the third.

The Hawks fought to start the quarter, and were able to keep things close. Johnson got this big putback dunk after a miss.

JJ follow JAM and pops is loving it pic.twitter.com/mZIXxT6Q6l

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

Okongwu tied the game with a three.

Triple O again

His third of the night! pic.twitter.com/ONWTl9f80b

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

The game went back-and-forth late in the fourth, and the Hawks had just been in this situation with the Grizzlies. It started on the defensive end, as the Hawks were able to get some key stops.

Good D fellas pic.twitter.com/GoOmNqHndW

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 24, 2026

A couple of shots from Johnson and McCollum helped the Hawks keep the lead, and more stops on defense sealed the deal for their second straight win.

Johnson finished with 23 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists, Okongwu finished with 25 points, and McCollum finished with the 21 points.

The Hawks will be back in action on Monday against the Indiana Pacers.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/68183/hawks-survive-another-clutch-game-defeat-suns-110-103

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Suns at Hawks: start time, TV, streaming, radio, game thread

The Atlanta Hawks (21-25) welcome in the surging Phoenix Suns (27-17) for a Friday night battle.

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen​

Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Start Time: 7:30 PM EDT

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE)

Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)

Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network app, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/atla...wks-start-time-tv-streaming-radio-game-thread

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Jalen Johnson shines in win versus Suns

Editor’s note: This is the first post from new Peachtree Hoops contributor Byron Terry. We’re excited to have him on the staff and help with our coverage of the Atlanta Hawks.

---

The Atlanta Hawks took on the Phoenix Suns at State Farm Arena on Friday night. The game was a close one for both teams, as Atlanta was down 91-84 in the third quarter, but the Hawks were able to rally back and get the victory 110-103. Atlanta is now 2-0 against Phoenix this season. The Hawks increased their record to 22-25, and one of the major factors in the win was forward Jalen Johnson’s play.

Jalen Johnson’s Major Game vs. Suns​

Against the Suns on 1/23/2026, Jalen Johnson had a very productive performance, scoring 23 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, and dishing nine assists. Johnson was able to create space against defenders on the perimeter and had good shot selection. Johnson was also 55.6% from the field. His +/- for the contest was +15, displaying how efficient he was with the basketball. He was second in scoring behind Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu, who had 25 points.

But Johnson didn’t just show his scoring talents — he also recorded nine assists and led his team in that category. Johnson would get the ball on the wing and perimeter, and defenders would try to close out on him to prevent a shot, but that left players open on different instances, and they were able to make the shots after getting the ball from Johnson. Johnson drew a lot of attention with the way he was playing which led to opportunities for other Hawks’ players. Ahead of this bout, Atlanta was leading the NBA with 30.1 assists per game, and this game showed why, as that was a focal point in their play style.

Johnson also had 18 rebounds, which was a career high, leading the team. 15 of which were on defense, and he was all over the floor on both offense and defense. Those defensive rebounds were able to keep the Suns off the board and halt their scoring ability, which also helped the Hawks come back in the third and fourth quarters.

What’s Next For Atlanta?​

The Atlanta Hawks will take on the Indiana Pacers on Monday night at home in their next game. Indiana is 11-35 with a recent 117-114 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both the Hawks and Pacers won their most recent games, and the Eastern Conference matchup will be one to note on Monday.

For more sports content, follow me on X(Twitter) and Instagram @BJT_ERA

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/reca...p-news-statline-notes-latest-nba-phoenix-suns

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

NBA moves up Pacers-Hawks game schedule

With most of the American mid-atlantic and southern areas of the country under heavy weather advisories for snow, sleet, and ice storms, the NBA has made a change to the game tomorrow.

Per a release from the NBA:

Please be advised of the following updates to the 2025-26 NBA Schedule:

Monday, January 26, 2026

The Indiana at Atlanta game will change game time to 1:30 PM ET.

The game was originally scheduled for 7:30 PM EST, so with the six-hour bump, this last second change may make for tough arrangements for those who desired to attend.

This game can be seen on FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE), listened to on Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM), or streamed on the following options:

• FanDuel Sports Network app
• Fubo (out of market)
• NBA League Pass (out of market)
• Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/late...wks-game-schedule-latest-news-breaking-update

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks snow in Pacers with second half avalanche, 132-116

The Hawks welcomed the Pacers for a game that was originally scheduled for tonight. But with inclement weather all through the metro Atlanta area, the NBA decided to push the game up.

Zaccharie Risacher is nearing a return to action, but Kispert once again got the start for this one.

The Hawks were sloppy with the ball early on, giving up two ‘pick 2s’ to Indiana as part of a lax 18-11 start.

The good guys picked it up after the first timeout, with Dyson Daniels first dishing to Jalen Johnson for a nice dunk:

What a pass from Dyson to Jalen! pic.twitter.com/KWv87Fd07M

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 26, 2026

Then with a thunderous tomahawk throwdown by the Great Barrier Thief dished up by CJ McCollum:

Dyson Daniels WINDS BACK and throws one DOWN

Tap to watch Pacers-Hawks on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/i1kbzgzl7V pic.twitter.com/JHJ1w7361O

— NBA (@NBA) January 26, 2026

At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks trailed 38-34.

The second quarter was quite the rollercoaster. The Hawks’ defense was rather porous for the first six minutes, too frequently losing Pacers on cuts and drive. The deficit ballooned to as much as 11.

Christian Koloko gave Atlanta a boost with a couple of big blocks to stop the bleeding, including this emphatic rejection:

Livin' la Vida Koloko pic.twitter.com/eXg1N5iOjg

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 26, 2026

But they hung in there, and eventually CJ McCollum got hot from the field:

CJ MCKORVER

3 THREES in 45 SECONDS pic.twitter.com/1KbyJ0z23O

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 26, 2026

At the end of the first half, the Hawks were lucky to be down just four points again, 64-60. McCollum was the game’s high scorer to this point with 17 off the bench on 6-for-8 (75%) shooting and 5-for-6 (83%) shooting from three.

The Pacers opened up a bigger lead early in the third quarter, going up 81-68 after a triple from Pascal Siakam. The lead grew to as much as 15, and Atlanta was in serious risk of losing a game to one of the worst teams (record-wise anyway).

But from that point on, the Hawks caught fire. Luke Kennard couldn’t be contained, first with two triples, then with this nifty give-and-cut:

Hawks lead! pic.twitter.com/M1K9hqaqGA

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 26, 2026

The Hawks went on a 25-7 run to close the third quarter, and they found themselves up 95-92 entering the fourth quarter.

Between the two quarters, the Hawks went on a 17-0 run to take a 10-point lead for themselves. This Kennard triple was the cherry on the top:

17-0 run pic.twitter.com/DxmZctSjBK

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 26, 2026

But Indiana didn’t roll over, responding with a 6-0 run to ensure this would be a competitive contest all the way through.

Atlanta continued to play well on both ends out of the timeout, and they salted away a win with salt on the roads around Atlanta, 132-116.

Dyson Daniels finished with 22 points (including his first made three since December 14) and nine assists. CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker also added 20-pieces.

The Hawks move to 23-25 and next travel to Boston for an evening game against the Celtics.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/reca...l-media-cj-mccollum-dyson-daniels-latest-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Pacers at Hawks: start time, TV, streaming, radio, game thread

Bundle up and join us to take in the Atlanta Hawks (22-25) face off against the Indiana Pacers (11-35) in this last-minute tip off change.

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen​

Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Start Time: 1:30 PM EDT

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE)

Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)

Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network app, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/atla...wks-start-time-tv-streaming-radio-game-thread

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

G League assignment, snub the latest player updates

At first blush, a former first overall pick receiving an assignment to the G League isn’t an update you want to hear. But this wasn’t a demotion at all — just an indication to say he’s almost back to NBA game-readiness.

Zaccharie Risacher and Asa Newell were both assigned to the College Park Skyhawks on Sunday, per this update from Hawks PR:

The Atlanta Hawks announced today that forwards Asa Newell and Zaccharie Risacher have been assigned to the College Park Skyhawks.

— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) January 25, 2026

The Skyhawks didn’t have a game until Tuesday, whereas the Hawks had a game on Monday against the Indiana Pacers. The duo practiced with the Skyhawks in the hopes of being ready for today’s game back with the big franchise.

Monday morning, the two were recalled to the big team and sat on the bench as the Hawks defeated the Pacers in a Monday afternoon affair:

The Atlanta Hawks announced today that forward Zaccharie Risacher has been recalled to the Hawks from the College Park Skyhawks.

— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) January 26, 2026

Unfortunately, Risacher was ruled out of Wednesday’s contest in Boston despite these steps forward:

For tomorrow’s Hawks game at Boston:
N’Faly Dante (right knee, torn ACL) is out.
Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) is out.
Zaccharie Risacher (left knee, bone contusion) is out.

— Lauren L. Williams (@WilliamsLaurenL) January 27, 2026

The Atlanta Hawks sent out this update just under a week ago (January 19) about the status of Risacher:

Forward Zaccharie Risacher, who has missed the last five games due to a left knee bone contusion, is progressing in his recovery and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week.

Sophomore Risacher last played on January 7 against the New Orleans Pelicans. Since then, the left knee bone contusion has kept him out of the last nine contests.

The Hawks have used Vit Krejci and newly acquired Corey Kispert at the starting small forward spot, but Risacher is the best defender of the trio. So, while we still await a signature breakout on offense this season, Krejci’s and Kispert’s recent struggles alone have paved the way for excitement over the Frenchman’s return.

That brings us to an unfortunate update. As of now, Zaccharie Risacher has not been selected for the Rising Stars competition at All-Star Weekend happening next month.

The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars

Tune in to @peacock tomorrow at 7 PM ET to watch honorary coaches Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter draft their teams from the pool of 21 NBA sophomores and rookies.

Austin Rivers will serve as the honorary coach of the @nbagleague… pic.twitter.com/WW4quEKMLX

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 26, 2026

Risacher could be named as a replacement for a sophomore if someone has to pull out due to injury, but it’s still a tough look for the former number one overall pick.

His stat line for the season has been somewhat underwhelming: 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game on 58% true shooting — a stat line that is almost identical to his rookie campaign that earned him a second-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting. But with the above players all taking a step forward, that crowded out the 20-year-old Hawk for a spot on the team(s).

Here’s to hope that he uses the exclusion as motivation for improved play going forward.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/late...skyhawks-latest-news-update-atlanta-hawks-nba

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Balanced scoring leads Hawks to 117-106 win against the Celtics

The Atlanta Hawks were in Boston on Wednesday evening to take on the Celtics. The Hawks came into the game riding a three-game winning streak, and they were looking to get revenge on the Celtics after the blowout they handed them at home just a few weeks ago.

As for the Celtics, they’ve been one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference this year, and have played well at home. It was going to be a tough matchup for the Hawks, but it looks like they had found a rhythm over the past few games.

The Hawks came out blazing to start the game, and went on a 10-0 run to give them a sizeable lead.

Love an early 10-0 run! pic.twitter.com/5e98VLY1da

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

Jalen Johnson spoke about how Quin Snyder wanted him to be more aggressive on the boards, and he put those skills to work, getting his own rebound and putting it back up for the and-one.

JJ tough down low pic.twitter.com/ZRyabuXfdZ

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

The three-pointers were raining for the Hawks in the first, and Dyson Daniels was able to make another one for the second game in a row.

Another 3 for Dyson! pic.twitter.com/hYJuoRRUiJ

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

The defense was strong in the first half, and they didn’t allow the Celtics to make a run to cut down their deficit. Nickeil Alexander-Walker joined in on the three-point fun and knocked down a pair in the first quarter to help the Hawks gain a 21-point lead.

Another 3 for Dyson! pic.twitter.com/hYJuoRRUiJ

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

Going into the second quarter, the Hawks were clicking on all cylinders and led 38-18.

The Hawks kept the intensity going to start the second, and Onyeka Okongwu turned defense into offense on this play.

Look at O, what a play! pic.twitter.com/apN3zt98Tf

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

The Celtics weren’t going to lay down for long, and they started to make their run as the second quarter continued. They were able to cut their deficit down to as low as 12, but the Hawks answered back.

Yessir Vit! pic.twitter.com/2iEfRqVAOu

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

CJ McCollum hit some timely shots to keep the Hawks afloat.

McCollum Midrange pic.twitter.com/X3DR2mVnMM

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

CJ is warming pic.twitter.com/2cT9Y1BwRk

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

The Hawks extended their lead back to over 20 points as they continued to knock down three after three. The Celtics once again made a run, and this time it was toward the end of the first half, but the Hawks still led 60-46 going into halftime.

The Hawks ran it back up at the beginning of the third quarter, and they used ball movement to lead the way.

Man DD & OO run such a pretty give & go pic.twitter.com/syJcLkoRZE

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

Okongwu knocked down a three-pointer to give the Hawks a 23-point lead.

Nickeil rips away a steal and Triple O cashes in on the other end pic.twitter.com/Ad2eLpwKLa

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

The Celtics started to make their run again, and they were able to cut their deficit down to as less as 11 points. Johnson used his strength to get to his spot and knock down this shot.

Steadying bucket for JJ pic.twitter.com/qw1BgSQYiu

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

Things definitely started to get physical down the stretch of the third, and both teams had their issues with the referees, and it even led to Joe Mazzulla getting a technical foul. The Celtics were able to cut down their deficit to nine late in the quarter, but the Hawks brought their lead back to double digits.

Daniels was able to get to his floater.

Nice Dys pic.twitter.com/0fAovCOVc3

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

McCollum did what he did best, and it’s getting buckets.

Shiftyyyy CJ pic.twitter.com/kVxJJYnSCJ

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

Going into the fourth quarter, the Hawks led 87-76.

Daniels had active hands all game, and his fifth steal of the game led to a layup for Luke Kennard.

Dyson has FIVE steals tonight pic.twitter.com/PhbDTG7BSG

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

The Hawks stayed afloat as the fourth continued, and Johnson got this three-pointer to roll in.

JJ gets the shooter's roll pic.twitter.com/zhnc882q4L

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

There wasn’t much that the Celtics could do, as the Hawks kept the pressure on, and continued knocking down shot after shot. The Hawks were so dialed in that Alexander-Walker got a last second three-pointer to go – with his left hand.

Nickeil is UNREAL

Banked lefty 3 pic.twitter.com/pIQnz2I4gI

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 29, 2026

Mazzulla waved the white flag early, and it signaled that the Hawks had walked away with a comfortable win.

Alexander-Walker finished with 21 points, Johnson finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds, Okongwu finished with 17 points and six rebounds (maybe some missing teeth), and Daniels finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and nine assists.

The Hawks will be back in action tomorrow against the Houston Rockets.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/reca...eads-hawks-to-117-106-win-against-the-celtics

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Shorthanded Hawks lose 104-86 to Rockets

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 29: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets steals the ball from CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on January 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Hawks were at home Thursday evening to take on the Houston Rockets. The Hawks were coming off a big win against the Boston Celtics the night before and riding a four-game winning streak. As for the Rockets, they were coming off a loss to the San Antonio Spurs last night, and looking to get back in the win column.

By no surprise, the Hawks were without Onyeka Okongwu after going through dental surgery earlier in the day. Jalen Johnson was also ruled out hours before the game because of calf tightness.

Just like against Celtics, the Hawks got off to a fast start in the first quarter with a 7-0 lead.

Nickeil with a couple buckets and we're up an early touchdown pic.twitter.com/esck634sxC

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 30, 2026

The Rockets started to settle in just a little and made a run to get even. The Hawks were able to still keep the lead, as CJ McCollum came in and was instant offense.

3J checking in pic.twitter.com/zHPIW6Mbok

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 30, 2026

Both teams were cold for most of the quarter and were shooting around 30% from the field. The score going into the second showed it, as both teams had 23.

The poor shooting continued through the second quarter, and the Hawks tried to find easy buckets wherever they could. That’s how they got on the board with this connection from McCollum to Christian Koloko.

Koloko off the nice dime from CJ pic.twitter.com/16tpSp7SE0

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 30, 2026

The Hawks continued to run their offense, and were able to get a Vit Krejci three-pointer.

Mo battling down low and finds Vit for 3 pic.twitter.com/wmmKqBvhsk

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 30, 2026

The Hawks never let the Rockets go off on a big run, and they had to rely on their defense when the shots weren’t falling. That wasn’t new to Daniels, as he got this steal that led to a McCollum three.

Dyson stealing, CJ shooting pic.twitter.com/TPN2jv0dnL

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 30, 2026

Going into halftime, the Hawks trailed the Rockets 43-42.

The Rockets started to pull away in the third quarter after a few missed shots and not being able to secure defensive rebounds. It was a ten-point lead for the Rockets at midway through the third, but the Hawks were able to go on a run of their own to cut deficit to three.

Defense to offense ️️ pic.twitter.com/jT77JDQUCA

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 30, 2026

The Rockets extended their lead back to double digits late in the quarter, and Asa Newell did what he could to trim their lead.

Asa for 3! pic.twitter.com/tqkaCdqxXY

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 30, 2026

Going into the fourth quarter, the Hawks trailed 78-66.

Things didn’t get better for the Hawks when the fourth quarter started, as the Rockets built a 20-point advantage. The Hawks did their best to chip away at their deficit, but it was hard for them to get consistent stops on the other end.

With not enough scoring power on offense, the Hawks ultimately couldn’t string together enough buckets to cut their deficit, and Quin Snyder pulled the plug with about two minutes left after Kevin Durant hit a three-pointer to seal the deal for the Rockets.

McCollum finished with 23 points, Alexander-Walker finished with 20 points, and Corey Kispert finished with 17 points.

The Hawks will be back in action on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/68358/shorthanded-hawks-lose-104-86-to-rockets

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Rockets at Hawks: start time, TV, streaming, radio, game thread

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 23: Vit Krejci #27 and Asa Newell #14 of the Atlanta Hawks shake hands before the game against the Phoenix Suns on January 23, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Atlanta Hawks (24-25) seek a win against the Houston Rockets (28-17) without Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher, Kristaps Porzingis, and others tonight.

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen​

Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Start Time: 8:00 PM EDT

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE)

Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)

Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network app, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)197 Comments

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/atla...wks-start-time-tv-streaming-radio-game-thread

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks at Celtics: start time, TV, streaming, radio, game thread

The Atlanta Hawks (23-25) try to make amends for the previous catastrophe against the Boston Celtics (29-17) tonight.

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen​

Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Start Time: 7:30 PM EDT

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast (FDSNSE)

Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)

Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network app, Fubo (out of market), NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/atla...ics-start-time-tv-streaming-radio-game-thread

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Three reasons why it’s right for the Hawks to not pursue Giannis

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives against Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on January 19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Hawks have all the assets necessary to put up a strong — and I’d argue a winning — fight in the great Giannis Antetokounmpo bidding war if they so choose to.

They have soon-to-be one-time All-Star Jalen Johnson locked up on a long, below maximum value contract, some young desirable talent, and of course a large piece of Milwaukee’s own draft picks in both the upcoming draft and the 2027 draft.

I outlined earlier that the Hawks also had control of every one of their first-round picks — excluding this year’s swap and next season’s pick outright — out to 2032. So, if Atlanta really desired to bring in the former two-time MVP, former two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and former Finals MVP, they could give the Bucks an offer they couldn’t refuse.

But they shouldn’t (and probably won’t) — and here’s why.

Let’s start with the latest from the rumor mill. Per NBA insider Marc Stein of the Stein Line substack blog from Thursday:

The early indications are that Atlanta has not joined the Giannis chase and does not intend to.

The Hawks do have control of Milwaukee’s picks in the next two drafts but have shown no interest to date in surrendering control of them. The Hawks are likewise said to be unwilling to surrender Jalen Johnson in a theoretical Antetokounmpo deal … even though Johnson’s agent Rich Paul said in one of his recent podcasts that the Milwaukee native is precisely whom the Bucks should target.

League sources say Atlanta continues to explore what moves can be made at this deadline with its $40-plus million in expiring contracts when combining Kristaps Porziņģis and Luke Kennard. And you can never forget that A) the Hawks hosted Antetokounmpo for the only pre-draft workout he conducted on American soil before the Bucks swooped in to select him with the 15th overall pick in 2013 and B) had conversations with Antetokounmpo’s agent Alex Saratsis last spring about joining Atlanta’s front office.

However …

Sources say that Atlanta has some level of reservation regarding the skillsets of Antetokounmpo and Johnson and how they would match after trading away Young in early January to make the 24-year-old their new centerpiece.

Onsi Saleh, the newly elevated general manager of the Hawks, on Tuesday spoke with Steak Shapiro and Sandra Golden on the Steakhouse, a show on 92.9 The Game Atlanta SportsRadio. In it, he talked through his team building philosophy including his desire to follow a model similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs — one in which sustaining winning over a long period of time is held in the highest importance.

“It’s development focused. It’s being flexible,” was one comment Saleh made in the interview as to what he wanted to see in this organization. But that development focus and flexibility would immediately go out of the window if the Hawks made the franchise-altering decision to acquire the former MVP.

“Patience is everything in this league. Once you start trading picks, that’s when you get in trouble,” was another quip from Saleh — something the Hawks now know all too well from the Dejounte Murray trade. Murray is obviously not Antetokounmpo, but there are legitimate reasons for hesitancy in this regard as well.

Three reasons stick out to me as to why it’s right for the Hawks to stay on the sideline for this move:

Giannis’ availability and signs of decline can’t be ignored​

Giannis Antetokounmpo is very much still an all-world basketball player, even as he enters the heart of his 30s. Last season, he averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game on 63% true shooting, and he deservingly finished third in MVP voting.

This season, the Bucks have a gargantuan 16.6 points differential per 100 possessions between Antetokounmpo being on versus off the floor. I can confirm with my own two eyes that he’s still a beast.

But any team that trades for him is trading for what the future holds for him, including very presumably the rights to hand him a four-year, $275 million maximum extension this offseason. That’s $68.8 million per season out until 2029-30.

Antetokounmpo has struggled this season with a rash lower body injuries — calf, adductor, groin, knee, ankle, you name it. As a result, he’s only played in 30 of a possible 46 games so far this season.

Add to that the fact that while his offensive impact is as clear as it’s ever been in his career, his defensive impact has fallen off a cliff since his Defensive Player of the Year days.

BBall Index’ LEBRON metric has estimated that Antetokounmpo has the third biggest falloff in defensive impact in the entire NBA between last season and this season:

DARKO D-DPM (Defense Daily Plus Minus) shows a career trajectory that is steadily aiming downwards:

And plain old defensive on-off rating has Antetokounmpo as not particularly moving the needle lately compared to his +7.8 on-off peak in 2019-20:

And the eye test largely matches these metrics. Antetokounmpo just doesn’t have the motor or defensive range he once had. Of course, he’s had to almost singlehandedly prop up the offense in the post-Holiday/post-Middleton era, so the heavy offensive load does matter, but it’s still a worrying trend.

You can’t live in the past when making a move of this importance. Projecting the future of a player you acquire is the most important aspect of which to be mindful. And if the Hawks gut their roster to acquire a great but no longer transcendent talent, the future state of the franchise could quickly turn grim.

The Hawks won’t be able to maximize the window with Giannis​

With Antetokounmpo showing some signs of decline, any team that takes the plunge to acquire him has to try to compete as soon as possible. One must consider what is left over after a deal of that magnitude.

For example, if the Hawks send Jalen Johnson the opposite way alongside a bundle of picks, they’ll have very little ammo to upgrade the roster to maximize Antetokounmpo’s skillset. A devastating downhill scorer, Milwaukee has targeted a number of catch-and-shoot specialists and stretch big men over the past few years to open up the spacing for his drive and kick game.

The fact of the matter is that the Hawks are 24-26 and face an uphill climb just to make the postseason this season — adding to the fact that Antetokounmpo will be on the shelf for a number of weeks according to medical physician Giannis Antetokounmpo.

But look at the Bucks. You can point to some misguided moves there — stretching and waiving Damian Lillard over five years to sign Myles Turner was certainly a choice — but despite their best efforts to prove to Antetokounmpo that they will compete, they are now 18-28 and floundering.

The Hawks do have a surplus of shooters, but does Antetokounmpo fit with non-shooter Dyson Daniels long term? What happens when you take the ball out of the hands of others and centralize the gameplan around the Greek international? If he continues to have less and less range and impact on defense, where do you go for the defensive pieces to form a championship-contending team?

There are just so many difficult roster questions to answer that the Milwaukee Bucks themselves haven’t been able to answer (just one playoff series win since their title run in 2021). As great a player as he is, Antetokounmpo’s greatest gift may be his curse — he’s a dominant but inflexible centerpiece of a basketball team on the court.

Atlanta would lack the salary space and the draft assets to plug any holes if this trade were to go through unless they received a heavy price discount. And with teams like the Warriors ready to send virtually all future assets to give Stephen Curry a twilight sendoff, Atlanta matching that deal would be entirely too risky an endeavor I firmly believe.

The superpick is just too valuable​

The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery was recently announced to take place on May 10. Yesterday, January 30, marked 100 days until the date when the Hawks will find out their fate — assuming they hold onto the superpick that is the best post-lottery result of the Pelicans’ and Bucks’ first-round picks.

Let’s not mince words — this freshman class in college basketball is absolutely special.

There are five players on schedule to have the best BPM (box plus-minus) metrics in recent one-and-done history: Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Kingston Flemings, and Caleb Wilson. This quintet is joined by recent luminaries like Zion Williamson, Cooper Flagg, and Chet Holmgren.

Of course, a big BPM figure is no guarantee of superstardom at the NBA level (hello Bol Bol and Nerlens Noel), but this quantity of blue chip prospects is nearly unprecedented. Even beyond the presumptive top five, talent absolutely abounds.

NBA superstars just don’t hit the open market. They get extended or traded to a team that will extend their contracts almost exclusively nowadays in the NBA.

I understand the irony of this piece being about weighing trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the only other primary avenue to acquire franchise-pillar talent is through the draft — and typically you have to be a bad team to strike it rich.

The Hawks are near .500 (yes, once again), but they still may have a better chance at the top pick and at a top-four pick than whichever team finishes with the worst record.

As of Friday afternoon, the combined odds from the Pelicans (tied for the worst record) and the Bucks (alone with the seventh worst record) would give the Hawks north of a 20% chance at the top pick and north of a 55% chance at a top-four pick.

Onsi Saleh, in the above interview, acknowledged the strength of the draft class and the ability to add that talent to a young Hawks core. Preserving ownership of that pick is not a bet that the player they pick will eventually be better than Giannis Antetokounmpo (altogether unlikely) — it’s a bet to have a cost-controlled, moldable talent for the next eight, nine, or 10 seasons to lead this franchise over a costly superstar in his fading seasons.

If the Bucks consider inclusion of the superpick a must to get a deal done, then, for me, there is no deal there. The Hawks have dabbled with impatience throughout their history and been burned repeatedly. It’s simply time to play the long game.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/opin...mor-latest-jalen-johnson-milwaukee-bucks-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks pile up faux pas in painful Pacers loss, 129-124

Jan 31, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) holds the ball while Indiana Pacers guard/forward Aaron Nesmith (23) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Hawks welcomed back second year player Zaccharie Risacher, and he was inserted directly back into the starting lineup along with Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Mouhamed Gueye — the latter to counter Indiana’s small ball preference.

Risacher got on the board with a great two-way play early:

Welcome back Zacch!!!!! pic.twitter.com/S5z7zYU5r4

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 1, 2026

Both teams got off to hot starts, with Jalen Johnson the primary guy for our favorite team. He bullied the Pacers almost every scoring possession in the opening minutes:

JJ is cooking

10 points in the first 4.5 minutes pic.twitter.com/N7EDKj85NF

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 1, 2026

But Andrew Nembhard absolutely couldn’t miss in the opening minutes, putting in 15 points on perfect shooting in the first quarter. As such, the Hawks couldn’t pull away despite their offense clicking.

After one quarter, it was 39-35.

The high scoring affair continued into the second period. With the Hawks up 48-39, they ceded a 9-0 run that included three fouls to Dyson Daniels. Those fouls pinned the Aussie to the bench for the rest of the half.

The Hawks by no means played great defense, but Indiana capitalized on every friendly whistle and were almost automatic from deep (11-for-20), and so the Hawks found themselves down 80-73. Jalen Johnson led the scoring with 21.

The track meet continued in the second half, but Atlanta struggled to retake the lead. Defensive highlights were few and far between, but Mo Gueye provided one here:

Huge Mo block

Sets up a Zacch 3 pic.twitter.com/notxvMW2jR

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 1, 2026

At the end of three, the Hawks trailed 103-100.

At the end of the fourth quarter, it remained a close contest — albeit one in which the Hawks were seemingly always down seven points. A late Jalen Johnson triple made it a four-point contest. With a stop on one end, and a McCollum make off an out of bounds play narrowed the lead to just two with a touch over 30 seconds remaining.

But Pascal Siakam hit a free throw line fadeaway and the Hawks literally tossed away a chance to tie the game from three and lose 129-124.

The Hawks have two days off before taking on the Heat in Miami on Tuesday.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/68435/hawks-atlanta-indiana-pacers-final-score-recap-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks falter in clutch, fall to Pacers

Jan 31, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Hawks concluded their regular season series with the Indiana Pacers with a disappointing 129-124 loss at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday night.

Jalen Johnson notched 33-point, 12-rebound, and 10-assist triple-double, his eighth of the season ahead of what is expected to be his first All-Star nod later today. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points for the Hawks. For the Pacers, three players scored 23 or more points, led by Andrew Nembhard’s 26 points with Pascal Siakam adding 25 points.

The Hawks welcomed back Johnson to the starting lineup after missing the Houston game with left calf tightness, while Zaccharie Risacher made his long-awaited return to the lineup having last played on January 7th due to a left knee, bone contusion. Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) and Onyeka Okongwu (dental fracture) remain out, while Vit Krejci was a game-day scratch with a left ankle sprain. In place of the absent Okongwu, Mo Gueye started at center.

Both teams started this game with momentum, both teams finding their opportunities at the rim/in the paint, particularly Jalen Johnson, who scored 10 first quarter points. Nembhard starred for Indiana in the first, scoring 15 points behind three three-pointers in a first quarter narrowly swinging in the Hawks’ favor.

The visitors, briefly, took a nine-point lead early in the second quarter — a lead that was, quickly, erased by the Pacers, who scored 45 points in the second quarter in another half where the Hawks concede 80 points.

The Hawks made inroads in the narrow Indiana lead in the third quarter, with CJ McCollum and Alexander-Walker scoring eight points in the third, where neither team shot the ball well from three and the high-level scoring — up to that point — slowed down. Heading into the fourth quarter, both teams found themselves in a clutch-game situation, so, let’s go through the plays down the stretch.

The Hawks never led in the fourth quarter; it was a game they were ultimately chasing down the stretch, though, a Dyson Daniels floater brought the Hawks to within one point — 114-115 — with 5:12 remaining. The Pacers extend this back to four points with this Aaron Nesmith three-pointer, leading to a Hawks timeout with just over four minutes left:

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While I think Johnson could have hustled a little harder around the Jay Huff screen to prevent the penetration, it’s Corey Kispert who wanders a little farther than he needs to from Nesmith, and it’s not as though he’s rotating to the corner to cover Daniels’ man, with Daniels having to rotate and deter a shot at the rim.

Kispert is subbed out of the game at this timeout, and Johnson brings the Hawks back within one point as Johnson successfully hits the jumpshot after backing down Nembhard, drawing the ‘and-1’ on the play and dispatching the free throw:

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The Pacers reply with an ‘and-’1 of their own, as Huff slips the screen, gets deep, and finishes with the reverse layup against Gueye, plus the foul:

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A few things to say about this play. The Pacers ran this Nembhard-Huff screening action a lot in the fourth and, for the most part, I thought Alexander-Walker applied excellent pressure on the ball on these actions, and Gueye also did a good job of moving his feet to reciprocate the pressure Alexander-Walker exerted.

However, this play was one where Huff was able to get the slip ahead of Gueye. McCollum does a good job to read the play, rotate, and hold up Huff as well as you could ask for (almost getting his hand on the ball for the steal), and Gueye is able to get Huff back in front of him. However, Huff is in too deep at this point, and if anyone is finishing with a reverse finish it’s Jay Huff, taking the contact on the way.

Johnson tried to attack Nembhard, again, in the post, but is unable to make the same headway on the back down, and Johnson tries to rise over Nembhard again with the jumper, but this time it’s missed:

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I wonder if Johnson was expecting Nembhard to make contact again for a foul call on the jumpshot here. Nembhard, wisely, keeps his hands out of the cookie jar this time — his body clearly positioned to avoid any contact on the jumper again.

Alexander-Walker’s defense creates a steal out-front, and he leads the one-man break where he’s fouled at the rim, where he would go on to miss his first free throw in seven games as he splits the pair to bring the Hawks within three points — 118-121 — with 2:51 remaining:

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The Pacers extend their lead as Nesmith drives from the corner on Johnson, carves space on the drive with the contact, and finishes at the rim:

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Not ideal from Johnson defensively, particularly the way Nesmith just bodied him out of the way to create the opening at the rim.

The Hawks’ hole suddenly becomes alarming, as a turnover from McCollum leads to an immediate Siakam basket in transition, putting the Pacers up by seven points with 2:17 remaining:

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It’s just a bad pass from McCollum; it’s behind Gueye on the roll, and even if it wasn’t, the ball is at his feet — he was never reaching it.

Jalen Johnson comes up with two big plays to give the Hawks a chance. First, he hits the three-point at the end of the clock before taking a charge, to give the Hawks a chance to bring the lead back down to a one possession game. The Hawks work a quick shot with the Johnson-Alexander-Walker pick-and-roll, but the three from Alexander-Walker is missed:

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This clip has the Pacers’ commentary, but one of the funnier moments last night was from the Hawks’ broadcast, with Brian Oliver outlining that the Hawks do not need to go for a three at this point, and, as he says, this he trails off, as Alexander-Walker hoists the three at this exact moment and misses. Difficult to describe, but pretty funny to watch!

Unfortunate miss: it’s not the worst shot in the world and Alexander-Walker can hit those… It’s one of those plays that looks a lot worse because it missed, especially with 16 seconds left on the clock.

A turnover from Nembhard gives the Hawks another chance to bring the lead down to one-possession — and now with under a minute remaining — but the Hawks miss another chance, as Johnson’s turn and drive toward the rim is deterred by Huff on the contest:

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This play speaks to a larger theme of the second half which we’ll discuss later, but a lot of it has to do with Jay Huff, who does well to alter the shot at the rim. Critically, in the immediate aftermath, Daniels claims the offensive rebound on the ground and successfully calls the timeout, giving the Hawks another, crucial chance to reduce the Pacers’ lead.

Out of the timeout, McCollum is finally able to bring the Hawks within two points, successfully connecting on a fadeaway jumper in the paint:

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The Pacers don’t call for a timeout, but this upcoming possession is the most important of the game. If Indiana scores, they extend the lead to two possessions (up four-plus points) with the shot clock off and force Atlanta to play the foul/free throw game. If the Pacers miss, the Hawks have a chance to tie or take the lead with the shot clock off.

In the middle of the paint, Siakam backs down Alexander-Walker, with Johnson arriving late to apply pressure. Siakam rises up to take the free throw line jumper, sinking it, giving the Pacers the crucial four-point lead:

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It’s a good make from Siakam, but for neither Johnson nor Alexander-Walker to get a hand up to contest this shot will be of disappointment for the Hawks.

The Hawks charge immediately with Johnson, who gets near the rim and kicks the ball out to Gueye in the corner, who misses the three. Alexander-Walker gets in the mix for the offensive rebound and is fouled, resulting in free throws:

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Hindsight is always a wonderful thing, and I think in this instance, the Hawks may have been served with Gueye kicking the ball to the more open, and reliable from three, option in McCollum. Alexander-Walker splits the free throws, bringing the lead down to three points.

The Pacers, however, hand the Hawks a gift: the in-bounder after the timeout, TJ McConnell, travels before the ball is inbounded, handing the Hawks possession with seven seconds remaining and a chance to tie the game with a three. All of a sudden, however, those missed Alexander-Walker free throws down the stretch become very costly…

However, just as the Hawks received a chance on the inbounds pass they also spurned this gifted chance, as Johnson turns the ball over on the attempted pass to Alexander-Walker, returning the ball to the Pacers where they would ice the game at the free throw line:

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A tough one for Johnson and Alexander-Walker combined here, and ultimately just not a turnover you can accept in a situation like this. To get a bad shot is one thing — to not get anything is the worst outcome of all.

The Pacers seal victory, leaving the Hawks to reflect on what may have been. In the case of Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, he was left to reflect on a style of play that he was not pleased with, believing the Hawks didn’t play to the way that brings them success: driving, finding perimeter shooters, and sharing the ball. Snyder was particularly unhappy with the Hawks’ 25 assists and just 28 three-point attempts, both considerably below their season averages. Snyder would go on to mention Onyeka Okongwu specifically as the most unselfish player on the team, and while Snyder said he wasn’t ‘lamenting’ Okongwu’s absence, he is clearly perturbed by his absence and what Okongwu provides the Hawks and his fellow teammates.

“We weren’t committed to taking good shots, we weren’t committed to passing the ball,” said Snyder postgame. “We had people open. It shows in our assist totals, and it shows in the fact we got 28 threes. When we play well, we’re getting in the lane and kicking the ball out. When we play well, we’re running and we’re spacing, offensively. On the defensive end we lose focus. What you see is we play a certain way, we get a lead — or close a lead — and then we play a different way, we look like a different team during stretches. We cut it to one, it’s back to 10. We know, we just have to execute it. Often times, the other team has something to do with that.

“I’m not lamenting Onyeka not being here but he’s the most selfless ball-mover on our team. He sets an example for everybody, because when they give it to him, they know it’s going to come back to them. We’re comfortable because he’s going to make a play for someone else, and everybody has to have that mindset. You have to make a simple pass and trust in your teammates. When you do that, we don’t shoot 28 threes. We shoot 40 threes. When we do that, we don’t have 25 assists, we have 35 assists. It’s something that we believe in, I don’t think there’s any lack of buy-in. There just has to be execution in those things. It’s harder to execute in that way because it requires everybody on the same page, everybody committed to a certain way of playing. But that’s who we need to be. When we’re like that and play that way, we’re efficient. When we’re not, the game looks like it did tonight.”

Snyder was probably wanting to make a more public indictment of how the Hawks played last night, but I don’t actually think the Hawks not shooting threes or getting into the paint and finding shooters was their issue last night. In fact, the Hawks’ greatest contribution to this game was the fact they were getting to the rim and finishing there; not getting to the rim and finding shooters.

In the first quarter alone, the Hawks scored 24 points in the paint and scored another 20 points in the paint in the second quarter; scoring 44 points in the paint in the first half alone. And it wasn’t a situation where it was just Jalen Johnson scoring, for example, 18 points in the paint (though, he did lead the way) — it was everybody. Johnson scored 10 paint points, Alexander-Walker, Gueye, Luke Kennard, Daniels, McCollum all scored six paint points each: everyone was contributing and excelling in the first half in the paint/at the rim:

11 three-point attempts is obviously a low volume of threes, but with the shots the Hawks did get they, mostly made. The Hawks shot just under 55% from the field in the first half for 73 points — offense was not their issue. Defensively, that’s another conversation, but I don’t agree with Snyder when he talks about the issues he saw offensively if he’s referring, in any way, to the first half.

The second half saw the Hawks score only 20 points in the paint, seeing a far lower volume and shooting percentage in the paint and at the rim:

If the message at halftime was to shoot more threes, it was the wrong message. It completely took away the good things the Hawks were doing offensively in the first half, and you could see the Hawks settle for those jump shots more in the third quarter.

In the first half, Johnson is absolutely taking this drive into the chest of Johnny Furphy (as he did in the first half), but instead he settles for a three which is missed:

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I would have liked to have seen Johnson continue to play as he had in the first half: getting into the paint and finishing, taking it to the chest of defenders who weren’t able to deal with him in the first half (scoring 21 of his 22 points in the first half), and especially to begin the third when Huff wasn’t on the floor.

While the likes of Siakam, Nembhard, Nesmith…they all scored 2o or more points in this game (extremely efficiently in the case of Nesmith and Siakam, who shot 80% and 73% respectively).

The most influential player for the Pacers in this game, I thought, was Jay Huff, and he’s a big key as to the reversal of paint scoring fortune the Hawks experienced in the second half (in addition to the coaching staff likely wanting more threes). Huff checked back into the game off the bench with 6:39 remaining in the third quarter — he did not check back out of this game until 42 seconds remained in the fourth quarter.

What Huff provided the Pacers was a clear deterrent in the paint and at the rim, one which the Hawks were wary of. Coming off the screen, McCollum knows that Huff is backpedaling and that any attempt to drive and finish inside would be futile, and he instead backs the ball out and misses a three:

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If Huff isn’t there, I think McCollum likely takes this ball to the rim, similar to this next play where McCollum gets deeper into the paint as he gets downhill, and with Huff looming McCollum kicks it out to the perimeter and the three from Gueye is missed:

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When Christian Koloko was on the floor, it allowed Huff to sit a lot more in the paint; when Gueye was on the floor there were times where Huff wouldn’t be centered in the paint, at least somewhat respecting the three-point threat of Gueye. Had Okongwu been available the same would be said.

With Koloko there, Huff doesn’t really need to concern himself, and he can drop deep like he does on this possession. McCollum is unable to get into the paint for a high percentage look, and has to settle for a jumpshot just outside the paint:

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It’s an example of instances where the Hawks’ attempts inside the paint were so much more limited in the second half.

On the pick-and-roll with Gueye, Alexander-Walker gets separation, but he can’t take the drive to the rim with Huff looming, and Alexander-Walker elects to lean back into the jumper which is missed:

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Alexander-Walker’s apprehension is understandable, as in the third quarter — one of the first plays Huff was involved in when he checked in — he was blocked emphatically by Huff:

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Johnson, too, was impacted by Huff’s presence at times. While Johnson was able to exploit mismatches and score some paint points in the second half, he struggled to operate in the same manner as the first half, and when he tried to take it to Huff, he faced a similar outcome:

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Something that the Hawks may have possibly seen more success in going to with Huff on the floor was the Dyson Daniels floater — the one instance Daniels whipped it out over Huff in the second half, he hit it (and the only shot he took/made in the second half):

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By the time this shot was hit, it was already hitting the stretch run in the fourth, and I can’t help but wonder if the Hawks had gone to this sooner maybe they could have found some paint success with Daniels’ floater…

Going back to Snyder’s comments… I think the Hawks going away from some of their paint scoring and emphasizing more threes (not that those went down with much success; shooting 5-of-17 in the second half, 11-of-28 from three for the game) combined with Huff’s presence limiting the Hawks’ attempts/percentages in the paint/at the rim was I think, ultimately, the Hawks’ undoing in the second half. The clutch plays…The Hawks were chasing the game for all of the fourth quarter, they struggled to get stops, the Pacers made some plays, but I think the two plays the Hawks would like a do-over would be replacing the Gueye three with a McCollum, and the Johnson turnover on the inbounds pass.

Looking at the Hawks’ individual games, Johnson led the way with 33 points on 12-of-29 from the field, 3-of-6 from three, and 6-of-8 from the line. Quite a high volume for Johnson last night, barely scraping above 40% shooting from the field. Production-wise, it looks good: a 33-point triple-double, but you’d like to see more efficiency from the field. After scoring 21 points in the first half and coming out for the second half, with no Huff on the floor, I would have liked to see Johnson pick up where he left off and attacking the rim. Defensively, some questionable moments for Johnson in the fourth, which is always disappointing as the potential is there to be a plus-defender.

Speaking of defense, Alexander-Walker was excellent defensively in the second half in particular, but struggled to shoot with great efficiency, scoring 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field. CJ McCollum scored a strong 18 points off the bench on 8-of-15 from the field — many of his misses in the second half were in those situations with Huff that we looked at. Mo Gueye was active last night, scoring 15 points, including 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Gueye was running the floor well, on both ends of the floor. It was a productive, and mostly positive game from Gueye — the late miss from three was unfortunate, but I think it takes away the focus on what he did do well, particularly in the pick-and-roll defense along with Alexander-Walker.

Zaccharie Risacher had a quiet return to action, scoring seven points on 3-of-5 five shooting from the field in — you guessed it — 21 minutes. While Risacher is working with a minutes restriction, he basically just played the amount of minutes he would have normally played: right in that 18-to-22-minute zone.

Quin Snyder was pleased with what Risacher did while he was on the floor, and emphasized that Risacher’s stat-line does not reflect his qualities as a player.

“He ran, he did the things we talked about before the game,” said Snyder of Risacher. “I liked that he was aggressive shooting the ball when he was open. His timing and his reads will get better, where he can drive in and keep his eyes out, keep his feet and find other people. He’s capable of doing that and has done that. The feel for those situations offensively is something — when you don’t play for a while — that’s more challenging. I thought he really came out in early in the game, I liked his aggressiveness defensively, I liked the way he guarded the ball, I like the way he rebounded. I think the key thing with Zacch, and everyone is that we can’t judge Zacch based on his stat-line. That’s not the way that Zacch improves, because he’s capable of doing a lot of things. Tonight, he looked good shooting the ball, but he also looked good making an impact in other areas that help his team win.”

I can’t say I share the same enthusiasm as Snyder, but good to have Risacher back nevertheless after a long absence. Hopefully, Risacher’s season will be able to kick on and end the season strong, because his absence at the upcoming Rising Stars game doesn’t reflect well of the perception of his contributions from the league.

All in all, a disappointing loss for the Hawks. The Pacers have played better of late, and in late-game situations, but the Hawks would have been expected to win in this spot against a team whose season has long been lost. The Hawks are without some key contributors themselves, particularly Okongwu. Gueye played well, but Okongwu is still sorely missed.

The Hawks (24-26) will hope that Okongwu will be close to returning by the time they are in action next on Tuesday, when they take on the Miami Heat (26-24) at Kaseya Center in Miami. A key matchup, not just as division rivals, but in close contest with the Heat for seeding, with a top-6 seed still within the realms of possibility.

Until next time!

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/anal...johnson-analysis-breakdown-quotes-notes-video