4 Takeaways From Hawks' 121-99 Loss to Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-99 at Smoothie King Center on Saturday. Atlanta’s deficit never dropped below 10 points after New Orleans went up 25-15 with 4:01 left in the first quarter.

Atlanta attempted 91 shots, and 46 of them were 3-pointers. The Hawks made 8, or 17.4%.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luguentz Dort, and Aaron Wiggins took 7 apiece and combined to make 3. Asa Newell went 1-of-6, Onyeka Okongwu went 0-of-5, CJ McCollum went 2-of-5, and Jalen Johnson went 1-of-3.

New Orleans attempted 17 3-pointers and made 7.

It was the first time this season the Hawks finished under 100 points. They had scored at least 110 in each of their first six games, and their previous low came in a 120-110 loss at Houston on Oct. 26.

Eight of Atlanta’s 19 turnovers came in the first quarter. Johnson finished with 4, while McCollum, Alexander-Walker, and Kingston Flemings had 3 each.

Atlanta actually forced more turnovers than it committed, getting New Orleans to turn the ball over 25 times and converting those mistakes into 32 points. The Pelicans, however, managed to get 34 points from the Hawks' 19 turnovers.

The Pelicans also capitalized on their opportunities on the offensive glass, making all 10 of their second-chance field goal attempts for 23 points.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder pointed to Atlanta's offensive execution as a problem, particularly with how the team's mistakes led to turnovers Saturday.

“No matter who’s on the floor, us being more connected as a group, that’s been something we’ve talked about as a strength,” Snyder said. “Tonight, it was not only not a strength, it was something that we didn’t do well.”

McCollum spent parts of four seasons with New Orleans before a June 2025 trade sent him to Washington. Atlanta acquired him from the Wizards in 2026 and signed him to a one-year, $21 million extension before free agency opened.

Dyson Daniels came to Atlanta from New Orleans in a 2024 trade. He had 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals on Saturday.

Newell and Flemings trace back to one draft-night deal. On June 25, 2025, the Pelicans moved up to No. 13 to select Derik Queen. In return, Atlanta got the rights to Newell, who was taken at No. 23, along with an unprotected 2026 first-round pick that would be whichever selection was more favorable between New Orleans and Milwaukee.

That selection ended up being No. 8 overall, giving the Hawks the opportunity to draft Flemings on June 23, 2026.

Newell went 0-of-3 in the first half and 5-of-8 in the second. Flemings shot 4-of-8 with 6 assists and 4 steals before his ejection, three days after Snyder closed a loss to the Miami Heat with Flemings on the floor instead of McCollum.

Queen had 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in 22:55 off the New Orleans bench.

The Hawks hosted Miami on Wednesday and Cleveland on Thursday before Saturday’s game in New Orleans. Johnson left Saturday with a left ankle injury, and Jock Landale left in the first quarter with a hip injury.

Snyder said the Hawks would know more about Johnson and Landale on Sunday and beyond.

“I’d like to get in the gym and practice, our schedule hasn’t really allowed for that,” Snyder explained. “But we’ve got to just keep working.”

Monday’s game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse tips at 7:30 p.m. ET. Atlanta then visits Washington on Wednesday and hosts the Wizards on Friday and the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.