Atlanta Hawks First Regular Season Loss

Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks are 2-1 to start the season after a 126-109 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The hawks shot 41% from the field, only making eight of 35 attempts from the arc.

Young finished with 28 points, five rebounds, and nine assists in 33 minutes of play. Young received a technical foul in the third quarter after arguing his blocked shot should’ve been goaltending, which caused a big momentum swing.

“There will be some nights where Trae doesn’t get it going. I thought the last game he didn’t get a rhythm early, and our bench came in and did a solid job,” said the Atlanta Hawks Head Coach, Nate McMillan. “It’s going to happen in situations where one or two of the starters may not get it going; you’re going to need help from the bench.”

Dejounte Murray notched 19 points. Clint Capela and John Collins each had 10 rebounds. Collins recorded his second straight double-double, finishing with 10 points, a game-high tying 10 rebounds, a game-high four blocks, and one steal in 38 minutes.

Young made nine of 25 attempts from the field.

“I got to get better at helping my teammates, and by making shots too,” Young told reporters after the game.

The Hawks started the game with exceptional momentum, leading 30-22 entering the second quarter, the Hawks looked as if they were setting the tone for the game, but the Hornets sailed to victory with Kelly Oubre Jr. leading with 24 points.

Charlotte led 59-55 at halftime and outscored the Hawks by 16 points in the third quarter.

Atlanta trailed by 20 entering the fourth quarter. Charlotte outscored the Hawks 52-28 in bench points, with Nick Richards adding 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

Says McMillan, “It didn’t feel like we were connected out there. I think we were more concerned about our own game as opposed to finding a way to come together to find a way to get it going.”