CLEVELAND — The Atlanta Hawks traveled to Cleveland and faced a challenging situation right from tip-off against a strong Cavaliers team. Without their veteran point guard, Trae Young (out with an MCL
sprain), the team had to adjust on the fly. Both sides were shorthanded, as Cleveland remained without Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland.
While they executed well in many moments, especially on the boards while also scoring 60 points in the paint and maintaining a 50.6% field goal shooting percentage, in the end the game slipped away, 117-109. Donovan Mitchell returned to the lineup and set the tone like a siren, burying eight triples on his way to a season-high 37 points.
Cleveland’s start was blistering (16–2 out of the gates) start to the game. Cleveland leaned on volume from deep (20-of-57 threes) and took care of the ball better (16 turnovers) compared with Atlanta’s giveaways. The Hawks committed 23 turnovers which Cleveland converted into crucial points. The lack of ball security, especially without their usual primary playmaker in Young, amplified the deficit.
The Hawks shot only 6-of-23 from three and left ten points at the stripe (25-of-35). Without Young, the Hawks’ offense lacked its usual rhythm and shot creation, resulting in fewer free-flowing looks and increased dependency on individual efforts.
Several Hawks stepped up. Jalen Johnson logged a strong night (23 points, 13 rebounds) and showed that the Hawks’ young core can be effective.
Atlanta’s best stretch came in the second quarter, when Jalen Johnson keyed a 30-point frame and the Hawks briefly nosed ahead before halftime. The Cavs seemed faster than Atlanta all night as they outscored the Hawks 27-14 on fast break points. Kristaps Porzingis had a strong game for Atlanta, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Midway through the third quarter, the Hawks had fought back into contention after a slow start, but then a decisive stretch in the fourth sealed the deal. The Cavaliers went on a 9-2 spurt (highlighted by a step back three by Donovan Mitchell) and the Hawks couldn’t keep pace down the stretch. That shift in momentum, when the Hawks’ turnovers aligned with Cleveland’s hot shooting, was the game’s turning point.
Dyson Daniel also had a solid game, scoring 18 points. Daniels also extended his consecutive-game steal streak to 59 straight games, which is currently the longest active streak in the NBA. He has accumulated 12 steals in his last five contests.
Atlanta will look to regroup as it returns home for the next stretch of games, focusing on reducing turnovers and tightening perimeter defense.
