Hawks’ Winning Streak Snapped by Nuggets in Historic Performance at State Farm Arena

The Atlanta Hawks’ six-game winning streak came to an end tonight as they fell to the Denver Nuggets, 127-119, in an action-packed contest at State Farm Arena. Despite the loss, the Hawks set and extended several franchise milestones, showcasing their dominance in ball movement and defensive hustle.

Historic Passing and Defensive Intensity

Atlanta continued its season-long trend of sharing the basketball, dishing out 26 assists in the game. This marked the team’s 17th consecutive game with at least 25 assists, setting a franchise record. Additionally, it extended the Hawks’ streak of recording 20+ assists at home to 62 games, the third-longest such streak in franchise history.

Defensively, the Hawks forced 20 turnovers from the Nuggets, translating into a season-high 30 points off opponent miscues. Atlanta’s knack for pressuring opponents has been a hallmark this season, as they lead the Eastern Conference and rank third in the NBA with an average of 17.3 turnovers forced per game. The team also recorded 12 steals in the game, their 16th outing with 10+ steals this season, leading the Eastern Conference in that category.

Standout Performances

Several Hawks players turned in impressive individual performances:

•Dyson Daniels delivered a well-rounded effort with 18 points, a game-high five steals, six assists, four rebounds, and a block in 34 minutes. The Australia native recorded his 10th game of the season with four or more steals, tying Josh Smith’s 2009-10 mark for the most such games by a Hawk since Stephen Jackson in 2003-04. With his fourth steal, Daniels reached 200 career steals, cementing his growing reputation as a defensive stalwart.

•Trae Young notched his league-leading 17th point/assist double-double of the season, finishing with 15 points, 10 assists, four rebounds, and three steals. He passed Lenny Wilkens for 22nd all-time in career double-doubles with 221 and extended his streak of games with five or more assists to 185—the third-longest streak in NBA history.

•De’Andre Hunter shined off the bench, scoring 20 points, marking his seventh consecutive game with 18+ points, the longest such streak of his career. Hunter’s stretch also stands as the longest by any bench player in the league this season.

•Onyeka Okongwu showcased his dominance on the glass, grabbing a season-high seven offensive rebounds as part of a 14-point, nine-rebound effort. The USC product has now scored in double figures in seven straight games, the second-longest streak of his career.

•Clint Capela continued to anchor the Hawks’ interior, pulling down 10 rebounds for the fifth time in his last six games, while Zaccharie Risacher contributed 10 points, bringing his total to 17 double-digit scoring games this season—the most by any 2024 rookie.

Nuggets Stars Shine Bright

The Nuggets were led by reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who turned in a dominant 48-point performance on 58.6% shooting, along with 14 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. Michael Porter Jr. added 26 points on a highly efficient 70.6% from the field, along with seven rebounds and three assists.

Looking Ahead

The Hawks will look to bounce back as they hit the road to take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 11.