Hawks Spoil Trae Young’s First Matchup Against Atlanta With 120-105 Win

 

WASHINGTON — Trae Young’s first game against his former team belonged to the Atlanta Hawks.

Atlanta defeated the Washington Wizards 120-105 Wednesday night at Capital One Arena, improving to 5-4 and picking up its second consecutive victory.

For Young, the matchup carried plenty of history.

The former Hawks star spent more than seven seasons in Atlanta before being traded to Washington in January. Although the Hawks and Wizards had already met after the trade, Young had not yet made his Washington debut at that time.

Wednesday marked the first time he actually stepped onto the court against the franchise he once led.

But Atlanta made sure the reunion ended with a Hawks victory.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker continued his strong early-season play, leading Atlanta with 26 points while knocking down six three-pointers.

It was another impressive performance from Alexander-Walker, who entered the night coming off a 34-point performance against Indiana that included nine made threes.

Atlanta was also without Jalen Johnson, who missed his second consecutive game while dealing with a sprained left ankle.

Even without one of its key players, the Hawks found production throughout the lineup.

Onyeka Okongwu finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds, while Dyson Daniels also grabbed 16 rebounds to go along with eight points and eight assists.

Atlanta controlled the glass throughout the night and finished with 19 offensive rebounds compared with just nine for Washington, creating additional scoring opportunities and helping the Hawks dictate the pace.

Rookie Kingston Flemings also made his presence felt in his return to the lineup.

After missing Atlanta’s previous game against Indiana while serving a league-mandated one-game suspension, Flemings made his first career NBA start and delivered an efficient performance.

The rookie finished with 14 points, four assists and three rebounds, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc.

Atlanta’s depth became one of the biggest differences in the game.

The Hawks’ bench outscored Washington’s reserves 48-9, with CJ McCollum and Aaron Wiggins scoring 15 points apiece.

McCollum added five rebounds and five assists, while Wiggins provided another steady scoring option off the bench.

Atlanta also received 11 points from Zuby Ejiofor and nine from former Wizard Corey Kispert.

Washington did not go quietly.

Anthony Davis led the Wizards with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Kyshawn George added 25 points.

Young finished with 18 points and six assists, shooting 6-of-12 from the field and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc in his first matchup against Atlanta.

The Wizards opened the night aggressively and put together an early 8-0 run, but the Hawks quickly answered.

Atlanta responded with a 13-0 run that carried into the second quarter and shifted the momentum.

Still, Washington continued battling.

The Wizards eventually trimmed Atlanta’s lead to four points during the third quarter, threatening to turn the game into a tight finish.

That was when Kispert delivered one of the biggest plays of the night.

The former Wizard knocked down a three-pointer while drawing a foul, completing a four-point play that helped Atlanta regain control.

From there, the Hawks created separation.

Atlanta carried that momentum into the fourth quarter and never allowed Washington to seriously threaten again.

The Hawks’ three-point shooting also played a major role.

Atlanta made 19 of 49 attempts from beyond the arc, giving the Hawks a major advantage from deep and helping offset Washington’s strong overall shooting percentage.

The extra possessions created by Atlanta’s work on the offensive glass also proved critical.

It was the type of complete team effort the Hawks have been searching for during the early portion of the season.

Alexander-Walker provided the scoring.

Okongwu and Daniels controlled the boards.

Flemings made an impact in his first career start.

And Atlanta’s bench overwhelmed Washington’s reserves.

Now the storyline shifts back to Atlanta.

The Hawks and Wizards meet again tonight, Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena in an Emirates NBA Cup matchup.

This time, Young will make his first appearance in Atlanta as an opposing player.

Next up: The Hawks then face a quick turnaround, hosting the Brooklyn Nets Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET before welcoming the Los Angeles Lakers Monday, Nov. 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET. For Atlanta, Wednesday’s win provided another step toward building consistency.For Young, Friday will bring an entirely different atmosphere.

His first game against the Hawks is over.

Now comes the return to Atlanta.