The Atlanta Hawks returned to State Farm Arena on Tuesday to face Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns in the finale of their two-game season series. Riding a dominant home streak, the Hawks once again rose to the occasion, defeating the Suns 122-117. The victory extended Atlanta’s home winning streak against Phoenix to an impressive 11 games, a run that dates back to April 7, 2015.
Hawks’ Dominance at Home
Over the 11-game streak, the Hawks have averaged 116.0 points, 25.0 assists, and 49.4 rebounds per contest, winning by an average margin of +11.8 points (116.0-104.2). Tuesday’s game followed a similar script, with Atlanta controlling the glass and the tempo throughout.
Key Performances
•Onyeka Okongwu delivered a historic performance off the bench, recording a career-high 21 rebounds (including 10 offensive boards) and 22 points on an efficient 9-of-14 shooting. Okongwu became the first Hawks reserve to notch a 20-point, 20-rebound game since starters were officially tracked in 1970-71. He joins an elite group of NBA players this season to achieve the feat, including Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama. This marked Okongwu’s seventh double-double of the season, the most by any bench player in the league.
•Trae Young led the Hawks with a season-high 43 points, knocking down 6-of-12 from three-point range. He also added five assists, three rebounds, and three steals in 38 minutes. With his performance, Young recorded his 34th career 40-point game, the third-most in franchise history, and passed Al Horford for 10th place on the Hawks’ all-time made field goals list. Additionally, Young extended his streak of five-or-more assists to 198 consecutive games, the third-longest such streak in NBA history.
•Garrison Mathews and Vit Krejci provided valuable contributions off the bench, scoring 19 and 15 points, respectively. Mathews was lethal from beyond the arc, connecting on 5-of-8 three-point attempts, while Krejci added six assists, five rebounds, and two steals in a well-rounded performance.
Team Stats Highlight the Victory
The Hawks’ dominance on the boards was a decisive factor, as they outrebounded the Suns 54-37, including a remarkable 20 offensive rebounds that led to 27 second-chance points. This marked the ninth game this season in which Atlanta recorded 50 or more rebounds. The bench also played a pivotal role, outscoring Phoenix’s reserves 50-26, with the Hawks now boasting the third-highest bench scoring average in the league at 43.8 points per game.
What’s Next?
The Hawks (now 20-19) hit the road to face the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, January 15, looking to carry their momentum and build on their recent success. With Trae Young at the helm and a strong supporting cast, Atlanta is poised to continue its ascent in the Eastern Conference standings.
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