ATLANTA, GA— Jalen Johnson delivered a near triple-double with 28 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds as the Atlanta Hawks edged the Charlotte Hornets 113–110 on Sunday night, securing their seventh win in the last nine outings.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker posted 23 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Dyson Daniels contributed 22 points and nine boards. Onyeka Okongwu also made a strong impact with 20 points for Atlanta.
Charlotte, now mired in a six-game skid, was paced by rookie Kon Knueppel’s 28 points. Knueppel set a new franchise rookie mark by knocking down seven three-pointers.
The Hornets had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Trailing 112–110 with 11 seconds on the clock, Knueppel drove toward the rim but was stripped by Alexander-Walker, who was fouled immediately after securing the ball. Alexander-Walker hit one of two free throws, leaving Charlotte a final possession. Miles Bridges managed to get off a contested three at the buzzer, but it fell well short.
Johnson continued his impressive streak, recording his eighth consecutive game with at least 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists — a new Hawks franchise record.
Entering the matchup, Charlotte led the league in three-point shooting at 41.5%, but Atlanta’s defense held them to just 31.8% from long range (14 of 44).
Knueppel remained one of the league’s hottest rookie shooters, having hit 40% or better from deep in six straight games. He had connected on 16 of his last 23 attempts from beyond the arc and came into the night as the NBA’s top-scoring rookie at 18.8 points per game. November has been especially strong for him, with seven outings of at least 24 points.
Atlanta generated momentum late in the third quarter, helped in part by contributions from Mouhamed Gueye. The young forward delivered a dunk courtesy of a Johnson assist, swatted a shot by Collin Sexton (who finished with 22 points), and opened the fourth with a smooth baseline drive. The Hawks strung together a 16–2 run that spanned the end of the third and start of the fourth, though Charlotte continued to fight back until the final horn.
Up Next
Hornets: Host the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
Hawks: Visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
