The Atlanta Hawks were back at home a day after Christmas Day to face the Miami Heat. The Hawks were looking to get out of their current losing streak after dropping two games at home to the Chicago Bulls
this week. The Heat are also in a rut of their own, and they came into the game losing three straight.
Zaccharie Risacher got the Hawks on the board to start the game, as he’s been shooting it well from three over the past few games.
The Heat came out with the lead to start, but the Hawks were able to get back in it. Trae Young started the run with this and-one driving to the lane.
The Hawks didn’t have the lead for long, as the Heat came back and grabbed a nine-point lead. Quin Snyder did not look pleased with the Hawks’ effort and called a timeout that may have jump-started their next run. Vit Krejci came in and knocked a three-pointer, per usual.
Young got in his bag late in the quarter and knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to give the Hawks the lead.
Going into the second, the game was tied at 32. They were the ones to break the tie to start the quarter, and the Hawks played from behind for most of the period. Nickeil Alexander-Walker got to his mid-range shot midway through the quarter.
Alexander-Walker didn’t stop there, and he was able to make something out of nothing, getting an and-one.
It looked like the Hawks had found a rhythm on offense, but they went back to their stagnant ways. On the other hand, the Heat got hot (no pun intended) and went on a run to extend their lead to double digits.
Going into halftime, the Hawks trailed 63-51. Young got it started for the Hawks in the second half.
Later on in the quarter, Young extended his range to cut down the Hawks’ deficit.
Though the Hawks started to pick it up on offense, all they needed to do was get a few stops on defense. That’s where Jalen Johnson comes in, turning defense into offense.
Young got the Hawks’ deficit to just one point with this three-pointer.
The Heat answered back with a run of their own and extended their lead once again, as the Hawks missed a few shots on offense. Going into the fourth, the Hawks trailed 90-84.
Things got worse before they got any better for the Hawks in the fourth, as the missed shots and turnovers continued. The Heat grew a lead as big as 15 early. The Hawks responded and got it down to as much as an eight-point deficit.
The run didn’t last for long, as the Heat built their lead back up again. From there, the Hawks could not get within single digits, as the Heat continued to make shots down the stretch.
Johnson finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists, Young finished with 30 points and seven assists, and Alexander-Walker finished with 15 points.
The Hawks will be back at home tomorrow to face the New York Knicks.
