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Hawks Show Promise but Ultimately Fall to Butler’s Heat in Preseason Matchup

By Yakiri Thomas / October 17, 2024

The Atlanta Hawks’ preseason loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night (Oct.16), highlighted several key points for the team. Jalen Johnson‘s standout performance, with 21 points on near-perfect shooting, was a major bright spot, demonstrating his growing role in the Hawks’ lineup.

Despite this, the team’s second-half struggles, including being outscored 37-15 in the third quarter, were decisive. The absence of Atlanta’s starters, including Trae Young and Johnson, in the second half allowed Miami to take control.

While Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 24 points, including a buzzer-beater before halftime, the Hawks’ early success from beyond the arc (13-of-19 in the first half) and their halftime lead (69-66) couldn’t hold up. Turnovers, particularly in the first half, hurt Atlanta, and their defense faltered as the game wore on, contributing to the loss.

The strategic choice to rest key players in the second half likely impacted the result, but this is typical in preseason games where coaches focus on experimenting with rotations and evaluating player performance ahead of the regular season.

Next up: The Hawks’ next test will come tonight as they face the Oklahoma City Thunder, another chance to refine their lineup and correct the issues seen against Miami.

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