Atlanta dropped its home opener 121-114 to a Houston team on the second night of a back-to-back, after trailing by 20 and cutting it to two on a late 9-0 push. The Hawks fall to 2-1 and slide to fourth in the East, with the same Rockets waiting Monday.
Where the Game Slipped
Houston's 8-0 burst midway through the second quarter made it 49-38, and the Hawks never led by more than seven. Locked On Hawks' Brad Rowland tracked the cause live: Atlanta started 5-for-27 from three while Houston hit 9 of 20 before the half. Alexander-Walker went 4-for-12 from deep, Wiggins 4-for-9 and Okongwu 0-for-5. Rowland also logged a whistle that frustrated the home bench. Rebounding and turnovers did not save them either.
Grades From the Box Score
Johnson earns an A-minus: 26 points, 16 assists, two turnovers in 38 minutes, and the only plus-minus among the starters above zero at plus-3. Daniels gets a B: 8-for-11 shooting for 18 points, but six fouls and minus-8 as Durant sealed it at the line. Okongwu gets a D: eight points on 2-for-8, minus-13 in 26 minutes. McCollum closed well with 10 fourth-quarter points, including the final layup, and his 17 points land him a B-minus.
What Monday Looks Like
The Hawks finished on a 9-0 run, trimming 117-103 to 117-112, but Durant's free throws and an Eason dunk ended it. The rematch comes Monday in Houston, then Miami, Cleveland and New Orleans at home and on the road. Atlanta sits fourth at 2-1, one-and-a-half games clear of 11th. The five-man starting group that was plus-20.3 last season was never the problem here. The shooting was.
What was the score of the Hawks' home opener against the Rockets?
Houston won 121-114 on Saturday, Oct. 24. Atlanta trailed by 20 and got within two in the final seconds.
When do the Hawks play the Rockets again?
The teams meet Monday, Oct. 26, in Houston. Atlanta is 2-1 and Houston is 3-0.
