The Atlanta Hawks got themselves into the preseason win column by leaning on the exact things that can travel from night to night: bench production, pressure defense, and a burst of efficient scoring when the game opened up.
After Monday night’s loss to the Grizzlies, Atlanta answered with a better finish against San Antonio. The Hawks shook off a rough opening stretch and pulled away behind a strong second quarter and an even better second half.
They did it while missing Jalen Johnson, Lu Dort. Mouhamed Gueye, Keshon Gilbert, and Henri Veesaar.
The biggest swing came from the bench, and one rookie in particular kept making the game look easy. Flemings, the No. 8 overall pick, followed up a solid debut against Memphis with an even sharper showing against the Spurs. He wasn’t in the starting lineup with CJ McCollum back on the floor, but that didn’t slow him down one bit.
In 19:50, Flemings put up 15 points, five assists, and three steals while going 6-8 from the field. More than the numbers, he looked composed running the offense all night. For a young player, that kind of control stands out fast.
Last year’s first-round pick Asa Newell also gave Atlanta a much-needed lift. After an uneven Summer League and an up-and-down preseason debut on Monday, he looked far more settled this time around. Zuby Ejiofor got the first crack as the bench power forward, but Newell was the one who made the stronger case.
He scored 16 points on 5-8 shooting and finished with a team-best +21 off the bench. For a player in the middle of a position battle, that’s the kind of response that matters.
Dyson Daniels added a different kind of pressure for Atlanta. With Jalen Johnson out of the starting lineup, Daniels pushed the offense more than usual, and even though it wasn’t always clean, the aggression was there. He took 16 shots in 21 minutes and finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds on 6-16 shooting, including 1-3 from deep.
That kind of willingness to attack is going to matter for the Hawks. Daniels may be known for other parts of his game, but he can still tilt a night with how he puts pressure on a defense.
The other separator was Atlanta’s work creating chaos. The Hawks forced 22 turnovers and only coughed it up 10 times themselves. That led directly to 30 points off turnovers for Atlanta, while San Antonio managed just 16 in return.
And it wasn’t the starters doing most of that damage. It was the bench.
Flemings had three steals, Kobe Johnson added three of his own, and six other Hawks finished with at least one steal. That kind of disruptive edge is clearly something this team wants to lean on, and against the Spurs, it was a major reason they walked away with the win.
In Other News...
Aaron Wiggins Is Forcing An Early Hawks Rotation Decision
The Hawks got their first look at Aaron Wiggins in the preseason opener, and the new guard wasted little time making his case for a bigger role. Acquired via trade, Wiggins chipped in seven points in 11 minutes and looked like a player who can fit into multiple backcourt looks, which matters for a team still sorting out its bench mix before the games start counting.
The lineup picture was already a little unsettled before tip-off, with CJ McCollum and Lu Dort both ruled out and the rotation order left open to interpretation. Wiggins early minutes only add another layer to the decision once Dort is back, because Atlanta now has to figure out where the newcomer fits when the bench is full and the coaching staff has more options to juggle. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Rotation Still Feels Unsettled Ahead Of Another Big Preseason Test
The Hawks head into another preseason test against the Spurs with the same basic issue hanging over camp: the rotation still does not look settled. Atlanta will be without Jalen Johnson, Lu Dort and Keshon Gilbert, while San Antonio is also dealing with its own absence, as Tobias Harris will sit. The Spurs are expected to open with De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, which gives Atlanta another look at a lineup with plenty of size and pace to solve.
CJ McCollum is expected to return to Atlanta's starting group after missing the previous game, giving the Hawks a veteran presence back in the mix as they continue sorting out roles. The bigger subplot remains how the pieces fit together around him, especially with the team still shuffling bodies and trying to build some continuity before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Preseason Comeback Put A Few Rotation Battles In Focus
Atlantas preseason win over San Antonio offered more than just a comeback from 23 down. It also gave the Hawks a better look at a few lineup questions as the roster continues to take shape, with the group catching fire from outside and using a huge second quarter to swing the game. The Hawks finished at 39.1% from three-point range and buried 10 shots from deep in that frame alone, a surge that helped turn an uneven start into a 123-116 victory.
Several players made their case in the process, starting with a rookie guard who looked comfortable in a lead role and added 15 points along with three rebounds, five assists and three steals. Dyson Daniels chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds, while CJ McCollum supplied 14 points and four made threes. For a preseason game, it was the kind of performance that can quietly shape the conversation around rotation spots, especially for the players trying to separate from the pack. [Read more 🡒]