The Atlanta Hawks delivered their most dominant stretch of the season Sunday night, rolling past the Portland Trail Blazers 135-101 at State Farm Arena.
Onyeka Okongwu led the way with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range, and added 10 rebounds and six assists in 27 minutes. The center’s inside-out scoring set the tone in a game that was decided early.
Atlanta erupted for a season-high 44 points in the first quarter. The home team shot 65% in the opening period and went 13-of-15 at the free-throw line to build a 44-25 cushion after one.
The lead never dipped below 15 the rest of the night. The Hawks finished at 55% from the field and compiled 36 assists on 51 made baskets, a reflection of clean execution and spacing.
CJ McCollum added 19 points and five assists, while Dyson Daniels chipped in 12 points and seven assists without a turnover. The backcourt kept Portland’s defense in rotation and limited transition chances the other way.
Jonathan Kuminga scored 20 points with seven rebounds off the bench in his third appearance since arriving via trade from Golden State. He is averaging 21.3 points and 7.7 rebounds with Atlanta after limited minutes with the Warriors earlier this season.
The Hawks also controlled the glass, outrebounding the visitors 54-38. Jalen Johnson contributed eight rebounds and eight assists, and Atlanta finished with a 13-9 edge in offensive boards.
For Portland, Jrue Holiday scored 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Donovan Clingan posted 15 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, but the Blazers shot just 40% overall and committed 17 turnovers.
The Northwest Division club was without leading scorer and first-time All-Star Deni Avdija, who missed his fourth straight game to manage a lower back injury. His absence limited shot creation against a defense that forced 10 steals.
With the win, Atlanta improved to 31-31 and reached .500 for the first time since Dec. 23. The club has won four straight games by an average margin of 26.5 points and moved into ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
Portland fell to 29-33 and dropped its second consecutive contest, remaining 10th in the Western Conference standings.
The Trail Blazers visit Memphis on Wednesday, while the Hawks travel to Milwaukee the same night.
