The Atlanta Hawks stepped onto their home floor Monday afternoon for their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day game, hoping to snap a three-game skid. But against a surging Milwaukee Bucks squad, things didn’t go according to plan - again.
Atlanta’s first half was about as cold as it gets. The Hawks shot a brutal 1-for-22 from three-point range before halftime, digging themselves into a deep hole.
Still, credit where it’s due: they clawed their way back. Fueled by a scorching fourth quarter from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Hawks trimmed a 20-point deficit and had a chance to steal the win in the final seconds.
Then came the final possession - and the decision that had Hawks fans lighting up social media.
With the game on the line, it was CJ McCollum, the team’s newest addition, who took the last shot. It was a tough, contested drive that didn’t fall.
The buzzer sounded, and so did the groans from the State Farm Arena crowd. The Hawks had dropped their fourth straight, now sitting five games under .500.
The reaction was swift and pointed. Fans questioned why McCollum - who’s still finding his rhythm in Atlanta - was the one taking the final shot, especially with Jalen Johnson and Alexander-Walker both playing inspired basketball.
Johnson had been a steady presence all game, and Alexander-Walker? He was on fire, hitting five threes in the fourth quarter alone en route to a 32-point performance.
He was the heartbeat of the comeback.
McCollum, along with Corey Kispert, arrived in Atlanta as part of the recent trade that sent Trae Young to Washington. It’s a bold shift for the franchise, and naturally, expectations were high. But through the early returns, the new-look backcourt hasn’t quite clicked - at least not yet.
Monday’s ending wasn’t just about one missed shot. It underscored the growing pains of a team in transition.
You can tell CJ McCollum was not passing this ball and going to shoot the ball no matter what happen smh pic.twitter.com/wWHU4UvbBv
— The Hood Therapist (@OhhMar24) January 19, 2026
The chemistry isn’t there yet, and the offense still feels like it’s searching for an identity in the post-Trae Young era. That’s not to say McCollum can’t be a difference-maker - he’s been that guy before - but in moments like these, fans want to see the hot hand rewarded, and right now, that’s Alexander-Walker.
The Hawks won’t have much time to stew over this one. They’re back in action Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.
With the trade deadline looming less than a month away, the pressure is mounting. If Atlanta wants to stay in the playoff mix, they’ll need more than just moral victories - they’ll need real ones, and soon.