Atlanta Hawks Win a Close One vs the Hornets 113-110
In the heart of Atlanta, inside the electric cauldron of State Farm Arena, a battle between the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets unfolded that was less about basketball and more about sheer, unadulterated will. On one side, the ascendant Atlanta Hawks, a team riding a wave of confidence. On the other hand, the Charlotte Hornets, desperate and hungry, are carrying the weight of a painful losing streak. When the final buzzer sounded, echoing through the rafters, the scoreboard read 113-110 in favor of the Hawks, but that simple fact tells none of the story, none of the heart, none of the grit.
This was a story of two franchises moving in opposite directions. The Hawks, victors in seven of their last nine, are starting to believe. They’re finding their identity not just in talent, but in the trenches, in the moments when games are won and lost on a single possession. The Hornets, now staring down a six-game skid, are searching for that same light, battling every night only to find heartbreak at the finish line.
The game was a brutal, beautiful symphony of effort, a heavyweight bout where every shot felt like a haymaker. And in the center of the ring, orchestrating the chaos for the Hawks, was Jalen Johnson.
Jalen Johnson: The Heartbeat of the Atlanta Hawks
Jalen Johnson is no longer just a promising young player; he is becoming the soul of this Atlanta Hawks team. Against the Hornets, he was a force of nature, a hurricane of skill and determination. He poured in 28 points, ripped down 8 rebounds, and, most tellingly, dished out 11 assists. It wasn’t just a stat line; it was a testament to his evolution. He wasn’t just scoring; he was creating, leading, and elevating everyone around him.
This performance etched his name in the franchise record books, marking eight consecutive games with at least 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. He has become the engine, the emotional core of a team learning how to win. Every drive to the basket, every no-look pass, every rebound snatched from the air was a declaration: this is his team now. He plays with a fire that spreads, igniting teammates like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who added a crucial 23 points, and Dyson Daniels, who fought for every one of his 22.
A Rookie’s Unforgettable Night
But for every hero, there must be a worthy adversary. On this night, that adversary came in the form of a rookie with ice in his veins, Kon Knueppel. The Hornets’ young gun put on a shooting display for the ages, a performance that dripped with defiance. He lit up the Atlanta Hawks for 28 points, sinking an incredible seven three-pointers, a new Hornets rookie record.
With every shot that ripped through the net, you could feel the hope swelling on the Charlotte bench. He was their answer, their lifeline. Late in the fourth, with the game hanging in the balance, it was Knueppel who hit a pull-up three and a subsequent free throw to give the Hornets a slim 110-107 lead. For a moment, it felt like his night, his story. It felt like the Hornets were finally about to break their curse.
The Final Seconds: Where Legends are Made
The final seconds of the game were a pressure cooker of raw emotion. With the Hawks trailing by a single point, Nickeil Alexander-Walker drove to the hoop, his layup giving Atlanta a 111-110 lead with under two minutes to play. The arena held its breath.
Then came the play that defined the game. With 11 seconds left, the ball was in Knueppel’s hands. The rookie, who had been untouchable all night, drove for what could have been the game-winning shot. But Alexander-Walker, who had been a spark on offense, became a wall on defense. He met Knueppel at the apex, stripping the ball clean in a moment of pure defensive genius.
Fouled on the play, Alexander-Walker stepped to the free-throw line, the weight of the city on his shoulders. He calmly sank the shots, extending the lead to three. The Hornets had one last chance. The ball found its way to Miles Bridges, a proven scorer, a player you’d trust with the final shot. He rose from beyond the arc as the clock bled to zero… and the shot fell short, an air ball that sealed Charlotte’s fate and ignited a roar of relief and triumph from the Atlanta Hawks faithful.
It was a fittingly brutal end to a hard-fought game. One team’s hero was denied, while another’s stepped up on both ends of the floor. The Atlanta Hawks didn’t just win a basketball game; they survived it. They proved they could take a punch, get knocked down, and still find a way to stand tall. And in that chaotic, emotional victory, they took another giant step toward becoming the team they were always meant to be.
