The Hawks needed this one.
After a rough start to the season and an even rougher night against Miami on Wednesday, Atlanta could not afford to drift to 2-4 overall and 0-3 at home without some kind of answer. Instead, the Hawks turned in a sharp response and knocked off last season’s Eastern Conference runner-up in a game that swung hard in their favor after a miserable opening quarter.
The night belonged to Onyeka Okongwu. After drawing plenty of heat for his performance against the Heat, he answered with one of the best games of his season, finishing with 29 points and 12 rebounds to lead all scorers. When Cleveland clawed back to within 110-109 with less than a minute left, Okongwu delivered again, burying the layup that pushed Atlanta back up by three.
That kind of night is exactly why the Hawks need him to be more than just a role player on the interior. He shot 4-for-6 from three, and when he’s scoring like that, he can cover up some of the size concerns that come with his game. Atlanta got the version of Okongwu it has been waiting for.
Aaron Wiggins also made his case to be part of the early-season conversation around the league’s best bench players. He followed up a quiet outing against Miami with 20 points, shooting 8-for-14 from the field and 4-for-7 from deep.
He added seven rebounds and three assists, and his production kept Atlanta afloat when the game was still hanging in the balance. In this one, he probably should have been the closer over CJ McCollum.
The Hawks made things hard on themselves early. Cleveland jumped out to a 31-16 lead in the first quarter, while Atlanta was shooting just 23% from the field and 3-for-10 from three.
It looked a lot like another offensive slog was coming. Instead, the second quarter completely changed the tone.
Atlanta ripped off a 30-8 run, took a seven-point lead, and never trailed again after that. They didn’t steamroll Cleveland from there, but they did enough to keep control and finish the job.
Still, the closing stretch got messy. With about four minutes left, the Hawks were up 106-96 and appeared to have the game in hand, but the offense bogged down late. McCollum closed, though the offense stalled and Cleveland had a real shot to steal it if they had gotten stops and Donovan Mitchell had knocked down some open looks.
The Hawks survived the late push, but barely.
In Other News...
Hawks Could Catch A Break If Cavs Lose Two Key Rotation Pieces
The Hawks next matchup with Cleveland comes with at least a little built-in uncertainty, thanks to two Cavaliers rotation players who are listed as questionable heading into the game. Jaylon Tyson has been dealing with a cervical strain, while Meleek Thomas is also on the injury report, and both have been part of the early-season mix for a Cavs team trying to keep rolling.
For Atlanta, the subplot is less about the Cavs stars, who are expected to be out there, and more about whether Clevelands bench depth takes a hit. If either player is limited or unavailable, it could tighten the rotation and change how the Cavs manage their usual workload as they chase a fourth straight win. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Frontcourt Issues Are Putting Real Pressure On Quin Snyder
Through the first five games, Quin Snyder has kept Atlanta on a tight nine-player rotation, leaning on a core group while the Hawks try to settle into the season. The frontcourt, though, has become an early point of concern. Recent trouble on the glass and around the rim has only sharpened the conversation about whether the Hawks can keep riding the same group, especially with two young bigs waiting in reserve.
Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor have barely gotten on the floor, and their appeal is obvious given what Atlanta needs right now. Both were first-round picks, with Newell bringing a more polished offensive skill set and Ejiofor offering more on the defensive end, but the Hawks have yet to find a natural way to open the door for either one. For Snyder, the issue is less about talent than fit, and the pressure is growing to decide whether a wider rotation can help solve a frontcourt problem that is already lingering. [Read more 🡒]
CJ McCollum May Be Shaping A Hawks Backcourt Change Already
Kingston Flemings gave the Hawks something to think about in the loss to Miami, flashing the kind of poise and scoring punch that can change a rotation conversation in a hurry. Coming off the bench, he delivered a career-high 23 points in 28 minutes and looked comfortable enough to stay on the floor as the game tightened up, a useful development for a team still sorting out its backcourt mix.
Flemings wound up replacing CJ McCollum in the lineup during the final quarter, with the veteran sitting as a strategic move by the coaching staff. Even with the result going against Atlanta, the more interesting part for the Hawks may be how quickly Flemings is absorbing McCollums guidance, because the rookies growth and his expanding role could soon become part of a larger decision about how this guard rotation is going to look. [Read more 🡒]