The 114-111 win over the Cavaliers lifted Atlanta to 3-3 and seventh in the East, half a game behind sixth-place Cleveland. Saturday's trip to New Orleans opens a road swing against a Pelicans team that is 1-4 with two guards listed day-to-day.
Cleveland Win Moved the Seed
Beating the Cavaliers moved Atlanta from eighth back up to seventh, and there is little room on either side: half a game behind Cleveland for sixth, one game clear of 11th. Okongwu's putback with 28 seconds left and two Alexander-Walker free throws decided it. Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks reported that Quin Snyder called Okongwu "terrific tonight" and said the Hawks played through him a lot.
New Orleans Is Missing Pieces
Jamahl Mosley's Pelicans are 1-4. Dejounte Murray (personal) and Jordan Poole (left ankle) are day-to-day, and Yves Missi is out with a left knee injury. Zion Williamson is averaging 21.8 points through five games. New Orleans plays at a pace of 104.9 to Atlanta's 103.2, so expect a quicker game than the Hawks usually play.
Can the Reserves Travel?
Wiggins came off the bench for 20 points and a +17, and the bench scored 34 in all. That depth gets tested right away: Indiana on November 2 and Washington on November 4, with Mouhamed Gueye out until an estimated November 20 because of his left foot and Henri Veesaar out with a right knee injury. The open question is whether an offense built around Okongwu holds up on the road against a weakened frontcourt, or whether Atlanta goes back to leaning on its perimeter shooting.
When do the Hawks play the Pelicans?
Saturday, October 31, in New Orleans. It is the first of three straight road games, with Indiana on November 2 and Washington on November 4.
Where do the Hawks stand in the East?
Atlanta is 3-3 and seventh, half a game behind the 3-2 Cavaliers for sixth and one game ahead of 11th.
