Atlanta won 128-81 in Charlotte, and the margin started building before the first quarter was half over. Jalen Johnson led everyone with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists, and the Rockets get two cracks at the Hawks over the next three days.
How Charlotte Got Buried
The Hornets actually led 9-7 early. Then Atlanta scored eight straight and Charlotte burned a timeout at 15-9, which didn't stop anything: the run reached 11-0 by 18-9, and the Hawks were up 31-20 after one. From there it was Atlanta's night on every count, ending 128-81. Naz Reid gave Charlotte 17 points and 6 rebounds, and nobody else came close to a push back. Locked On Hawks had reported Charlotte would be without Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Grant Williams, but a 47-point margin is more than a short-handed opponent can explain. This was a team taking its chance and not letting go.
Grades Earned by the Box
Johnson gets an A. Nineteen points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists, and he had two steals in his first nine minutes, which is exactly how a team leader should stuff a blowout. CJ McCollum gets an A-minus for a seven-minute burst of 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting, 2 of 3 from deep and a perfect 3 of 3 on free throws, with a plus-12. Onyeka Okongwu gets a B-plus: he hit his one three, didn't turn it over, and matched McCollum's plus-12 for the best mark of the night. The only minus signs belonged to Jock Landale and Aaron Wiggins, each at minus-1 in five minutes. You can forgive Landale. Locked On Hawks' Brad Rowland reported the team had announced a nasal fracture, and he played anyway.
What It Means Against Houston
The Rockets are next on Oct. 24 in Atlanta, and then the Hawks visit them on Oct. 26. That's a real step up. Houston went 52-30 last season with a 5.4 net rating, and Kevin Durant averaged 26.0 points with Alperen Sengun at 20.4. Reed Sheppard is out with a knee injury, which takes away a guard who played all 82 games last season. A rout like this also means the closing stretch was a job for the reserves, and that's useful with a quick turnaround coming. After Houston it's the Heat on Oct. 28 and the Cavaliers on Oct. 29, so this week will tell us whether the Charlotte margin is a sign of something or just a good night.
What was the final score of Hawks vs. Hornets on Oct. 23, 2026?
The Hawks won 128-81 in Charlotte. They led 31-20 after the first quarter.
Who led the Hawks in scoring against the Hornets?
Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 19 points, and he added 7 rebounds and 8 assists. CJ McCollum scored 11 in his first seven minutes.
