The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Washington Wizards 129-117 on Friday night, led by Dyson Daniels’ stellar performance. Daniels tallied 25 points, hitting 10 of 14 from the field, and recorded six steals to secure Atlanta’s second consecutive win in NBA Cup play.
Jalen Johnson contributed a double-double with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Trae Young added 18 points and nine assists. De’Andre Hunter returned from injury, scoring 22 points in just 21 minutes, bolstering the Hawks’ offense.
Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 24 points, while Jordan Poole scored 22. Rookie Alex Sarr posted a career-high 20 points, with seven rebounds and four steals.
Despite these efforts, the Wizards dropped their seventh straight game and their NBA Cup opener.
The Wizards started strong, leading 39-29 after the first quarter, but the Hawks dominated the second. Johnson’s three-point play capped a 12-0 run, giving Atlanta a 54-43 lead. The Hawks outscored Washington 30-11 in the quarter and maintained their momentum for the remainder of the game.
Young reached a career milestone during the third quarter, assisting Daniels on a three-pointer for his 4,000th career assist.
Atlanta improved to 6-7 overall and is now 2-0 in NBA Cup play.
Sarr, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, faced off against top pick Zaccharie Risacher of Atlanta. Sarr outscored Risacher 20-11 but couldn’t lift his team to victory. Risacher started in place of Hunter, continuing his development as a key player for Atlanta.
The Hawks capitalized on their offensive efficiency, shooting 46.9% from the field and converting 83.3% of free throws.
Washington struggled with consistency, hitting only 40.6% from the floor. Despite strong rebounding numbers, the Wizards failed to close the defensive gaps exploited by Atlanta’s guards.
Hunter’s return gave the Hawks additional offensive firepower, while bench players like Onyeka Okongwu and Garrison Mathews made significant contributions. Okongwu grabbed 13 rebounds and scored 13 points, while Mathews added 12 points on efficient shooting.
Washington’s struggles continued as they fell to 2-9, with both wins coming against Atlanta earlier in the season.
