Hawks Lock In Defensively, Cruise Past Pelicans 117–100

Change is officially here in Atlanta—but the Hawks made one thing clear Wednesday night: the work continues.

The Atlanta Hawks took care of business at home, knocking off the New Orleans Pelicans 117–100 at State Farm Arena with one of their most complete efforts of the season on both ends of the floor. The win came amid a whirlwind moment for the franchise, as rumblings of an imminent trade involving All-Star guard Trae Young finally became reality, with social media confirming Young will now wear a Washington Wizards jersey. Despite the noise and emotions surrounding the move, the Hawks remained focused and delivered a statement performance.

Atlanta set the tone defensively from the opening tip, finishing with a season-high 10 blocks to go along with 13 steals. It marked the first time since March 16 that the Hawks recorded 10+ steals and 10+ blocks in the same game, and they’ve now logged double-digit steals in four straight contests. When Atlanta forces that level of disruption, the results follow—the Hawks improved to 12–4 this season when recording 10 or more steals.

Offensively, the ball continued to move with purpose. The Hawks connected on 18 three-pointers, extending their streak to 30 straight games with 10-or-more made threes—the fifth-longest active streak in the NBA. Atlanta also dished out 30 assists, marking its league-leading 26th game of the season with at least 30 assists, further reinforcing the identity this group is leaning into as it turns the page.

Zaccharie Risacher delivered a breakout performance, pouring in a season-high 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including a career-best 7-of-9 from beyond the arc. He added eight rebounds and a block in 33 minutes, continuing a strong stretch in which he’s averaging 20.5 points, six rebounds and two assists while shooting an eye-popping .643 from three.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker filled the stat sheet with 17 points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks in 33 minutes. With his third point of the night, Alexander-Walker reached the 4,000-point mark for his career, becoming the third member of the 2019 NBA Draft class to reach 4,000+ points, 1,000+ rebounds, 1,000+ assists, 200+ steals and 100+ blocks. He also extended his career-long streak to 26 straight games with at least one made three-pointer.

Jalen Johnson continued to steady the ship, adding 19 points on 9-of-18 shooting, along with eight rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes. Johnson did most of his damage early, finishing the opening half with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks in just 18 minutes. The performance marked his 14th half this season with at least 15 points and five rebounds, tied for the fourth-most such halves in the league—another reminder that the future is already taking shape.

Mouhamed Gueye delivered one of the most complete games of his young career, tallying 10 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, a career-high four steals and two blocks in 31 minutes. It marked his second double-double of the season and fourth of his career, making him just the third Hawk since at least the 1983–84 season to reach those minimums in a single game.

Luke Kennard continued his consistent production off the bench, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep, in 21 minutes. Kennard has now scored in double figures in five straight games, his longest streak of the season. Dyson Daniels once again did a little bit of everything, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a block in 35 minutes, marking his 26th double-digit scoring game of the season and the 104th of his career. Kristaps Porziņģis added 13 points off the bench, knocking down four triples while contributing three rebounds and two assists.

For New Orleans, Zion Williamson led the way with 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting, along with eight rebounds and six assists, while Jordan Poole finished with 21 points, three assists and three steals.

The night symbolized more than just a win. With the Trae Young era officially closing, Atlanta appears ready to embrace a new chapter—one defined by balance, defense, and shared responsibility rather than reliance on a single star.

With the victory, the Hawks now turn their attention to a challenging four-game road trip. Atlanta will face the Nuggets on Jan. 9, followed by matchups against the Warriors on Sunday, Jan. 11, the Lakers on Jan. 13, and the Trail Blazers on Jan. 15, before returning home to State Farm Arena to take on the Boston Celtics on Jan. 17.

The transition has begun—but the Hawks aren’t slowing down.