The Atlanta Hawks score 146 points and dominate the Grizzlies with stellar offense and a strong performance by Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Although the Atlanta Hawks lost their 11-game winning streak this past weekend, they still have another streak going. With the Hawks' 146-107 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, that is now 11-straight victories at State Farm Arena. Atlanta is now 40-32 and 21-16. A 140-point performance for the Hawks in the most dominant game they've had all of March.
The Hawks were without Jalen Johnson, but makes this streak so impressive is how much the Hawks struggled at home for a majority of the season, but none of that matters around, as Atlanta has completely turned things around in the last month.
The win on Monday night might have been the best offensive showing all month. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the way with 26 points, and seven other Hawks players contributed at least 10 points. Onyeka Okongwu scored 16 points, Jonathan Kuminga added another 16, and CJ McCollum scored 15 points in the win.
“I thought CJ set the tone early," coach Quin Snyder said. "He was just in the lane and had his eyes out, finding people, and then Nickeil had a stretch at the beginning of the third quarter, where just those guys playing that way, it raises everybody’s level. It sets a tone.”
Against Memphis, which implemented a pretty weak starting lineup, the Hawks got up big to start the game and never looked back. Atlanta held a 20+ point lead at halftime, and continued the strong shooting into the second half.
A completely balanced night from all the Hawks starters, and very ample production off the bench as well. Caleb Houston, Buddy Hield, and Christian Koloko all saw 7+ minutes in the blowout.
With 10 games left in the NBA season, the Hawks are emerging as a true threat in the Eastern Conference and should be feared in a playoff series.
The hope is that Jalen Johnson's left shoulder inflammation isn't too serious, but Alexander-Walker has been such a serious scoring threat over the winning stretch. It's just one of many examples of Atlanta's impressive depth.
Every member of the Hawks roster saw the court in the win against Memphis. Perhaps what's been most impressive about the Hawks' hot stretch is the number of blowouts they are a part of.