The Atlanta Hawks started their three-game road trip against the Houston Rockets tonight. The Hawks came into the game on a three-game winning streak having won seven of their last nine games. Unfortunately, for the Hawks the Rockets came into the game even hotter and escaped with a 121-114 victory.
After the opening tip, both teams exchanged a few early possessions with no clear edge. But within minutes, the Hawks caught fire as they went on a 15-0 run. The run began with a corner three from Zaccharie Risacher, followed by a pair of steals that led to fastbreak finishes from Onyeka Okongwu and Trae Young.
Young had 13 points and five assists in the first half to give the Hawks a lift. The Rockets were able to overcome the Hawks strong first quarter as they lead by 17 points at halftime.
The Hawks were unable to contain the Rockets big lineup of Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun as they desperately missed Clint Capela. Adams and Sengun were able to dominate the paint by playing physical and aggressive.
Dyson Daniels versus Jalen Green was a great matchup as it featured one of the best defenders against one of the best scorers in the league. Entering the game Daniels has 204 steals which ranks fourth in a single season since 2000. He also has at least one steal in his last 43 games.
Green had a great game as he finished the game with 32 points after scoring 14 points and pulling down eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in the first half.
The Hawks had a difficult task coming into the game as the Rockets led the league in rebounds. They outrebounded the Hawks 51-42 and also outscored the Hawks in the paint 54-52.
Georges Niang continues his hot streak, averaging 13.4 points per game. It had been the first time in his career that he has had back-to-back games with 20 or more points before Tuesday night. He ended the game tonight with 12 points while going 3-for-7 on his 3-pointers.
The Rockets were able to limit the Hawks opportunities by playing zone and forcing turnovers. Houston forced 16 turnovers that lead to 22 points for the Rockets. The Rockets are the fourth best defensive team in the NBA.
The Hawks had a strong fourth quarter, and for a while it looked like they were going to have another fourth quarter comeback.
On December 26 they came back from 21 points down to defeat the Chicago Bulls. They also came back from 21 points down to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks by 21 points. They trail by as many as 25 points tonight, however they were able to cut the deficit to four points in the fourth quarter. The Hawks eventually ran out of gas to end their three-game winning streak.