Nickeil Alexander-Walker delivered when it mattered most, lifting the Atlanta Hawks to a nail-biting 113-110 victory over the shorthanded Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
Alexander-Walker finished with 23 points and sealed the win with a game-saving defensive stand. After giving Atlanta a 111-110 lead on a strong layup with 1:42 remaining, he later stripped Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel with six seconds left, preventing Charlotte from attempting a go-ahead shot. The Hornets still had one last chance, but Miles Bridges’ desperation three-pointer at the buzzer fell short.
Atlanta nearly let the game slip away. The Hawks once held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, only to see Charlotte storm back behind Knueppel’s four-point play that gave the Hornets a 110-107 advantage with just over three minutes left. But Alexander-Walker steadied the Hawks on both ends to halt the rally.
The win showcased the Hawks’ balanced firepower, with all five starters scoring at least 20. Jalen Johnson led the way with 28 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, extending his streak of games with at least 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists to eight — the third-longest active run in the league. He also surpassed a franchise milestone that had stood since 1965, breaking the record previously held by Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens.
Dyson Daniels added 22 points and nine rebounds, while Onyeka Okongwu chipped in 20 points and seven boards for Atlanta, which has now won five straight against the Hornets.
Knueppel shone in the loss for Charlotte, firing 28 points on seven three-pointers. Collin Sexton added 22 points and Bridges had 21 for a Hornets squad missing six players due to injuries, including LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Ryan Kalkbrenner. Tre Mann returned to action after missing two games with ankle soreness.
The game swung back and forth from the opening tip. Atlanta led 28-25 after the first quarter, but the Hornets inched ahead 55-53 at halftime thanks to Sexton’s early scoring burst. The third quarter saw more tight exchanges until the Hawks closed the period with a 7-0 run to take a 92-88 cushion.
Atlanta managed the win despite missing Kristaps Porzingis — out for load management after scoring a season-high 30 points the night before — and Luke Kennard, who sat due to hip inflammation.
Sunday’s matchup was the first of four meetings between the Southeast Division rivals this season, with the Hawks drawing first blood in dramatic fashion.