Hawks Collapse Late (Again) in Another Gut-Punch Loss to Bulls, 126-123
Two games. Three days.
Same opponent. Same result.
The Atlanta Hawks dropped another close one to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night, this time in a 126-123 heartbreaker that came down to the final seconds-and didn’t even require Chicago to make a shot.
The game was decided at the free throw line. With 1.9 seconds on the clock and the score tied, the Hawks fouled Coby White, who calmly knocked down one of two free throws.
Then, after a wild sequence, Atlanta sent the Bulls back to the line again. Three free throws sealed the deal.
No field goals needed-just smart execution and costly mistakes.
For a Hawks team still trying to find its identity, this one stings. And it’s the kind of loss that leaves a mark.
Playing Short-Handed, But Not Short on Firepower
Atlanta was without guard Dyson Daniels, sidelined with a hip injury, and big man Kristaps Porzingis, who’s been in and out of the lineup most of the year. But they got a boost with Nickel Alexander-Walker back in the starting five, giving the Hawks a third scoring option alongside Trae Young and Jalen Johnson. And that trio delivered.
Young, still on a minutes restriction, looked sharp early-drilling a three, hitting his signature floater, and drawing fouls like it’s 2021 again. Johnson, meanwhile, continued his breakout campaign, and Alexander-Walker showed why he’s averaging over 20 a night. The three combined for 38 points in the first half alone.
Rookie forward Asa Newell gave the home crowd something to get loud about, too. The Atlanta native had a mini highlight reel in the second quarter-first a steal and dunk, then a corner three on the next possession.
Later, in the third quarter, he buried back-to-back triples that had the arena buzzing and the supporters chanting his name. It was one of those moments where you could feel the potential bubbling up.
At that point, Atlanta led by 15. The crowd was into it.
The Hawks were rolling. But in the NBA, no lead is safe.
The Bulls Keep Coming
Chicago chipped away at the deficit behind a big third quarter from Nikola Vucevic, who scored eight quick points to start the second half. Atlanta responded with a flurry of their own-Young with an and-one, Zaccharie Risacher hitting a three-and pushed the lead back to double digits.
But the Bulls weren’t done. A 6-0 run early in the fourth forced head coach Quin Snyder to burn a timeout. It was the kind of game where every possession felt like a swing, and momentum was always one play away from flipping.
Jalen Johnson tried to steady the ship. With the Bulls surging, he attacked the rim, scored through contact, and gave Atlanta some breathing room. Later, with the Hawks clinging to a narrow lead, he hit a midrange jumper to make it 119-116 with less than two minutes to go.
But Coby White wasn’t going away. He buried a contested three to cut the lead to one, then hit free throws to tie it.
Josh Giddey gave the Bulls the lead with a tough jumper in the lane. And from there, it was a game of inches-and whistles.
Final Seconds, Final Mistakes
Down two with six seconds left, Alexander-Walker drove and finished a tough layup to tie the game at 123. But then came the breakdown.
The Hawks fouled White with 1.9 seconds left. He made one of two.
On the ensuing inbounds, Atlanta couldn’t get a clean look, and another foul sent Chicago back to the stripe. Three made free throws later, it was over.
No buzzer-beater. No heroic finish. Just a collapse in execution when it mattered most.
After the game, Young was candid: “We’re trying to figure out how to execute down the stretch, whether it’s me or Jalen.” And that’s the story right now for this Hawks team-talent isn’t the issue. It’s closing games.
What’s Next
The Hawks have a couple of days to regroup before hosting the Miami Heat on Friday and the New York Knicks on Saturday-two teams they haven’t faced yet this season. Those games will be a chance to reset the tone before the calendar flips to 2026.
Atlanta closes out the year at home on New Year’s Eve against the Minnesota Timberwolves and hometown star Anthony Edwards. Then it’s off to New York on January 2 to face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, followed by a two-game set in Toronto on January 3 and 5.
The good news? There’s still time to figure it out.
The bad news? These types of losses don’t just disappear-they tend to linger.
The Hawks have shown flashes. But if they want to be more than a team with potential, they’ve got to start turning those flashes into finishes.