Trae Young and Onyeka Okongwu powered the Atlanta Hawks to a 120-116 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, combining for 58 points to secure the season-opening win. Young finished with 30 points and 12 assists, while Okongwu set a career high with 28 points, hitting 11 of 12 shots from the field.
The Hawks relied heavily on their dynamic duo, especially in the final moments. Young sealed the victory with two free throws in the last two seconds, ensuring Atlanta’s successful start to the 2024-25 season.
Okongwu was nearly perfect from the floor, making all six of his free throws to surpass his previous career-best of 22 points. His efficient scoring provided a much-needed boost for the Hawks, who battled throughout the tightly contested game.
Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas led all scorers with 36 points, but his performance wasn’t enough to prevent a loss in Jordi Fernández’s NBA head coaching debut. Thomas drained seven three-pointers and consistently found ways to break down Atlanta’s defense, though the Nets came up short.
The Hawks also received contributions from Jalen Johnson, who posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson, fresh off signing a $150 million contract extension, provided a solid presence on both ends of the floor. Dyson Daniels, the No. 8 pick in 2022, chipped in 15 points and five steals, delivering a standout performance after two lackluster seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Zaccharie Risacher, the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, made his regular-season debut for Atlanta. He hit his first shot from beyond the arc but struggled the rest of the game, finishing with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting.
For Brooklyn, Thomas’ scoring led the way, but other contributors included Dennis Schroder with 14 points and Ben Simmons, who posted eight assists. However, the Nets struggled defensively, allowing Atlanta to shoot 48.8% from the field.
Atlanta capitalized on Brooklyn’s mistakes, including costly turnovers and missed free throws. The Hawks outscored the Nets 33-22 in the third quarter, shifting the momentum in their favor.
While Thomas shined for Brooklyn, the Hawks’ balanced attack and defensive intensity made the difference. Atlanta’s ability to close out the game with key plays on both ends of the floor demonstrates the team’s potential this season.
