The Hawks walked out of Washington with another win, and they did it while shorthanded, shuffling the rotation, and leaning on a few unexpected names to get the job done. Atlanta beat the Wizards 120-105 for its second straight victory, doing enough in all the right places to control the night.
Dyson Daniels may not have broken through as a scorer after five straight games without reaching double figures, but he still left a huge imprint on the game. Daniels finished with eight points, eight assists, and 17 rebounds, the most ever by a Hawks guard.
He played 34 minutes, posted a plus-21, and managed to be a major factor even while shooting 4-for-13 from the field and 0-for-4 from three. After a rough stretch offensively, he still found a way to shape the game on both ends.
Quin Snyder also made a notable change in the starting lineup, turning to rookie Kingston Flemings in place of CJ McCollum. The move paid off.
Flemings put up 14 points, four assists, and three rebounds, hitting 6 of 9 shots and both of his attempts from deep. Since his first Summer League run, Flemings has looked composed, and that showed again here as he kept the ball moving and repeatedly set teammates up in good spots.
Atlanta also got a breakout kind of night from Zuby Ejiofor, who stepped in as the backup center with Jalen Johnson and Jock Landale out. Ejiofor delivered the best game of his young career, finishing with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals while logging a plus-18. The physicality and toughness were obvious throughout his minutes, and it was the kind of performance that gets noticed.
The Hawks’ edge on the glass ended up being one of the biggest reasons the game tilted their way. Even with Johnson out, Landale out, and Asa Newell leaving with an injury and not returning, Atlanta still won the rebounding battle 57-41.
That included 10 more offensive rebounds than Washington. When you add in the Hawks making 13 more threes and taking 13 more shots overall, the formula for the win becomes pretty clear.
McCollum’s move to the bench also gave Atlanta a useful lift. He scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds, and handed out five assists. The shot wasn’t especially clean, but he handled the role well, which he reportedly asked for.
Wiggins bounced back too after a rough night against the Pacers. He finished with 15 points and hit 3-for-7 from three, giving Atlanta another productive bench piece on a night when the second unit mattered plenty.
For one game, at least, the Hawks found answers everywhere they needed them.
In Other News...
Hawks Suddenly Face A Bigger Lineup Test Than Fans Expected
The Hawks are having to juggle their rotation again as they try to build on a win and stack a second straight victory. Jalen Johnson is sidelined with an ankle injury for the second game in a row, forcing Atlanta to reshuffle the lineup and lean on some unexpected combinations at a time when consistency would help most.
Lu Dort will step into Johnsons spot, while rookie guard Kingston Flemings is set for his first career NBA start in place of CJ McCollum. For a team already trying to settle into a rhythm, the changes add another layer of uncertainty, and the Hawks will have to see how quickly the new look can hold up under game pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Rebounding Woes Make A Flawed Trade Target Worth A Look
Atlantas early-season issues around the glass have made frontcourt help a real talking point, and it is not hard to see why. The Hawks have had trouble protecting the rim and finishing possessions, which naturally pushes attention toward any big man who can clean up misses and steady the interior.
One name that fits the discussion is Domantas Sabonis, even if he is not a perfect answer on the defensive end. Sacramento is in a different place than Atlanta, and the Kings could eventually be forced to weigh tough decisions if the situation shifts further. For the Hawks, the appeal is obvious enough: they have expiring contracts that could help make a deal work, even if nothing official is happening yet. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Get An Early Chance To Silence The Trae Young Debate
The Hawks get an early look at life after Trae Young when they meet Washington, a matchup that already carries a little extra weight because of the trade that sent Young to the Wizards. Atlanta has reason to feel good about the roster it has built around the deal, with CJ McCollum among the pieces helping reshape the backcourt and give the team a different kind of balance as the season gets going.
Young has fit quickly in Washington as a playmaker, and the Wizards are showing enough early competitiveness to make this more than just a reunion game. Both teams enter the season with playoff ambitions in the Eastern Conference, which gives this meeting a sharper edge than a typical early-season crossover and makes Atlanta's first chance to answer the debate around the move feel especially important. [Read more 🡒]