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Atlanta Hawks beat Washington Wizards 139-132 as Nickeil Alexander-Walker scores 28 in NBA Cup opener
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 28, Luguentz Dort added 25, and Atlanta held off Trae Young's return and Kyshawn George's 33 in a 139-132 Emirates NBA Cup win.
In this article
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 28 points, Luguentz Dort added 25, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Washington Wizards 139-132 at State Farm Arena on Friday, November 6, in Emirates NBA Cup Group Play. Atlanta improved to 6-4 and 1-0 in the Cup. Washington fell to 4-5 and remains looking for its first Cup win. It was Atlanta’s third straight victory and a home-and-home sweep of the Wizards.
Alexander-Walker went 7-of-20 and 4-of-12 from three with 10-of-10 from the line in 33 minutes. Dort shot 9-of-15 and 5-of-7 from deep. Onyeka Okongwu posted 22 points and 10 rebounds with 4 steals. Dyson Daniels filled the box score with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 12 assists while spending much of the night on Trae Young. Aaron Wiggins scored 19 off the bench.
How it turned
Washington led 32-28 after one behind hot perimeter shooting. Atlanta answered with a 38-27 second quarter, taking a 66-59 halftime lead as Alexander-Walker heated up. The Hawks pushed the advantage to 105-94 after three on a 39-point period, then held off a Wizards rally in the fourth.
Dort beat the shot clock with a corner jumper late in the fourth to help seal it. Atlanta’s season-high 139 points were also the most Washington has allowed this season. The Hawks shot 53 percent from the field and 16-of-38 from three, assisted on 38 baskets and scored 62 points in the paint.
Video: NBA / X.
Kyshawn George led the Wizards with 33 points on 10-of-19 shooting and five threes, plus 7 assists. Young returned to Atlanta for the first time since last season’s trade and finished with 23 points and 10 assists but also a season-high 8 turnovers. Tre Johnson matched Young with 23 points and five threes off the bench. Overall No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa started and had 11 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals on 3-of-13 shooting. Alex Sarr added 13 and 8. Washington was without Anthony Davis (sprained right ankle).
Video: ATLHawks / X.
The numbers
Both teams turned it over 16 times. Washington shot 53 percent from three (18-of-34) and 92 percent from the line but could not overcome Atlanta’s pace and paint dominance. The Hawks outrebounded the Wizards 43-41 and recorded 11 steals. Attendance was 15,538.
Video: ATLHawks / X.
Washington’s side
The Wizards stayed within striking distance by hitting 11 of their first 15 threes in the second half, but Atlanta’s lead never fully disappeared after halftime. Deandre Ayton had 8 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes. Bilal Coulibaly scored 9. Washington’s largest lead was 4.
What’s next
The Hawks host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET (2:30 a.m. Sunday Cairo time). The Wizards visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET (3 a.m. Sunday Cairo time).
Full box score and play-by-play: Game Center. All-time head-to-head.
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