Landale scores 17 as Hawks edge Thunder 113-110 in preseason

Jock Landale scored 17 points as the Atlanta Hawks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-110 on Monday at State Farm Arena, winning their third straight preseason game.

The Sportradar scoring summary carried by The Madison Courier records Nickeil Alexander-Walker adding 16 points and Zuby Ejiofor scoring 15 for Atlanta. Bennett Stirtz led Oklahoma City with 26 points, while Brooks Barnhizer had 20 and Aday Mara added 17.

Atlanta wins a close fourth quarter

Atlanta led 29-28 after one quarter and 56-49 at halftime. Oklahoma City outscored the Hawks 30-23 in the third to make it 79-79 entering the final period. Atlanta won the fourth 34-31.

In Jackson Caudell’s Hawks On SI analysis, Kobe Johnson’s late rebounds and a steal helped Atlanta finish the game. Johnson scored 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including two threes. Landale made seven of 11 shots, and Ejiofor added nine rebounds and three assists, according to Caudell.

Stirtz and Mara give Oklahoma City something to build on

Stirtz shot 9-of-16 overall and made six of nine threes. Derek Parker of Thunder On SI reported that Mara finished with 10 rebounds, six assists and six blocks alongside his 17 points.

Parker highlighted Mara’s work as a passing hub early in the game, with teammates cutting around him, and a late lob from Stirtz that briefly put the Thunder ahead. Oklahoma City nevertheless fell to 0-3 in the preseason.

Rest-heavy lineups limit the conclusions

Both teams held out much of their usual rotation. Atlanta rested six players, including Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and CJ McCollum, while Oklahoma City left its established rotation at home ahead of Tuesday’s game against Indiana.

That context matters when assessing the performances. The game offered extended minutes to rookies and players deeper on the roster, not a settled look at either team’s regular-season lineup. Atlanta finishes its preseason Friday at Dallas.