Snyder dissects the Hawks' mental resilience after a crucial third-quarter collapse, highlighting how small lapses can unravel a game.
Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder did not point to a single whistle or possession after Saturday night’s 126–119 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, but he was clear about when the game tilted — and why it mattered.
Charlotte arrived at State Farm Arena riding an eight-game winning streak and left with its ninth straight victory, the longest active run in the NBA and the franchise’s best stretch since the 1998–99 season. The win also carried immediate standings implications, tightening the race for ninth place in the Eastern Conference and giving the Hornets an edge in a potential tiebreaker with Atlanta.
The decisive moment came late in the third quarter. After trailing by as many as 13, Atlanta surged back behind strong shot-making and playmaking from Jalen Johnson, briefly taking a three-point lead. What followed was an 11-0 Charlotte run that swung momentum decisively.
Grant Williams sparked the sequence with a three-point play, followed by a 3-pointer, and Tre Mann capped the run with another three as the Hornets carried a 98–90 lead into the fourth quarter. Charlotte never relinquished control from there.
“That was a tough stretch,” Snyder said. “I don’t know if I would say the game fell apart, but we had to put it back together as best we could. There are stretches and plays like that in games, and you have to endure them.”
The Hornets’ ability to capitalize during that window reflected the broader shape of the night. Charlotte dominated the glass, finishing with a 49–30 rebounding advantage led by Moussa Diabate’s 15 boards, repeatedly extending possessions and limiting Atlanta’s ability to settle the game.
“Whatever those catalysts are, you can’t control what just happened,” Snyder said. “How we respond mentally and make sure those moments don’t compound is something we need to continue to grow in as a team.”
Charlotte’s poise showed late. Atlanta trimmed the deficit to one after Dyson Daniels dunked off a rebound and Johnson made two free throws with 26.3 seconds remaining. From there, LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges each calmly knocked down two free throws to close it out. The Hornets were perfect at the line, going 16-for-16, while Atlanta finished 15-for-17.
Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 26 points, while Kon Knueppel added 23. Ball finished with 19 points and nine assists as the Hornets improved to 12–3 over their last 15 games. Miller scored 16, complementing Diabate’s work inside.
Atlanta, which had won six of its previous eight games, received a strong all-around effort from Johnson, who finished with 31 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Zaccharie Risacher scored 18 points, and Onyeka Okongwu added 16 in his return after dental surgery.
Snyder said moments like the third-quarter collapse illustrate how quickly games can turn when execution and composure slip simultaneously.
“They happen every night in this league,” Snyder said. “The question is whether you let one thing turn into three or four.”
The teams will see each other again soon, with Atlanta traveling to Charlotte on Wednesday night. Before that, the Hawks head to Minnesota on Monday to open a three-game road trip, while the Hornets return home to open a four-game homestand against Detroit — carrying momentum, confidence and a clearer foothold in the standings.