The Atlanta Hawks walked into this one trying to shake off a rough home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, but instead they ran into a Chicago Bulls team that had been stuck in an eight-game losing streak and still found a way to flip the night on its head.
Atlanta had its chances, and for stretches it looked like the Hawks were in control of the game’s rhythm. But the Bulls kept hanging around, and the Hawks never fully put them away. Chicago pulled away by as many as 18 points after Atlanta started slowly and played with a loose edge that never quite tightened up.
A big part of the Hawks’ problem was self-inflicted. They gave up 20 points off turnovers, and their shooting from deep never really gave them the kind of lift they needed, finishing at 20% from three. At the same time, the Bulls took away one of Atlanta’s biggest strengths by limiting the fast-break chances that usually fuel the Hawks when the game is there to be seized.
The second half brought a defensive adjustment from Atlanta, with extra pressure on Chicago’s guards coming off screens. That approach clearly bothered some of the Bulls’ younger players, and the Hawks forced four turnovers to open the third quarter. Chicago’s offense looked shaky in that stretch, with nearly as many assists as points.
Still, Atlanta couldn’t turn that pressure into a clean finish. The Hawks were down one entering the fourth quarter and seemed ready to close the gap for good, but the Bulls answered with a 10-2 run after the period began. Chicago then had a few late breakdowns that pushed the game to overtime.
Jalen Johnson was the bright spot for Atlanta. After an underwhelming outing against LA, he responded with his first triple-double of the season, finishing with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and one steal.
He also leads the Hawks in rebounds and assists, making him one of the few players in the NBA to do so. Even with the big night, though, his outside shot remains a concern; he has not made a three in his last three games and is 0/11 in that span.
Overtime belonged to Norman Powell. He scored 10 of Chicago’s first 15 points in the extra period, and Atlanta never found a way to answer. With about 40 seconds left, Matas Buzelis buried a three after a late closeout by Johnson, and that was that.
In Other News...
Kingston Flemings Is Giving The Hawks A New Point Guard Debate
Kingston Flemings has quickly turned an early-season opportunity into something the Hawks have to take seriously. After stepping into the starting point guard role, he has given Atlanta a steadier presence in the backcourt over his first 11 games, showing a blend of passing, efficient scoring and defensive upside that fits neatly into what the team needs around its core.
The bigger question now is what comes next, because Flemings is no longer just filling in and his play is creating a real lineup conversation. Atlanta has seen enough to know the rookie can handle the job in stretches, and his recent stretch has only sharpened the debate about how permanent this arrangement should be as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Get A Big Opening In Pace Battle With Short-Handed Bulls
The Bulls arrive in Atlanta already trying to piece together a difficult start, and their latest setback only adds to the challenge. Rookie Caleb Wilson had surgery on his right hand and will be sidelined for at least a month, leaving Chicago to navigate its 1-9 record without another young piece it hoped could help stabilize the rotation. For a team that wants to play fast, losing a developing contributor like that changes the look of the roster in a hurry.
Atlanta, meanwhile, gets a matchup that should suit its own pace and energy, with both teams expected to push the tempo. The Hawks have their own reasons to like the style of game that could unfold, but Chicagos shorthanded front still leaves room for its other young players to be tested in a hurry. How well they handle that responsibility may end up shaping whether the Bulls can keep this one from getting away early. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Still Have One Defensive Problem Without Mo Gueye
The Hawks interior defense has been a work in progress for much of the season, and the absence of frontcourt help has only made the issue harder to hide. Mo Gueye has been part of that equation, and Atlantas latest update at least offers a sign of movement: he is getting closer to on-court work as the team tries to steady its rim protection and patch together minutes inside.
For now, though, the wait continues. The Hawks said Gueye will be re-evaluated in about four weeks, which leaves them planning to defend the paint without him for at least another month while they keep searching for answers around the basket. How long that stretch lasts beyond the next check-in will matter just as much, because Atlantas defensive ceiling is tied to getting healthier in the frontcourt. [Read more 🡒]