標籤: Atlantas

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks had their 11-game winning streak snapped last night against the Houston Rockets in a way they probably didn’t want to. The good news was that he got a chance to get the best taste out of his mouth the next night against the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately, they had to do it without Jalen Johnson, who was out just hours before the game due to left shoulder inflammation.

In the first half of the game, the Hawks looked like they were missing their best player; Meanwhile, the Warriors were missing two of their best players and that made it interesting. It was the second half where things turned around and the Hawks put on a tremendous performance early in the third quarter, which ultimately helped them win the game by defeating the Warriors 126–110.

Although they were without Johnson, the Hawks got major contributions from several players, and it is something that has helped the team be successful this season.

“I think we’re a team, no matter who’s on the field, and different guys will do different things every night,” Quin Snyder said. “I think our group right now isn’t worried about who’s actually getting credit for the basket. They’re worried about our scoring, and when that happens, your team is better. We want to be greater than the sum of the parts, and when we’re missing a guy like Jalen, who is obviously important to our team, other guys have to pick it up, and it’ll be his turn when he comes back.”

Dyson Daniels did everything for the Hawks in this one, finishing the game with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

“I do a little bit of everything and try to build momentum,” Daniels said. “Defense is where I’ve found my niche in this league, so that’s always going to be my number one, and then being able to push the pace, try and get my feet in the paint, find my teammates, and be able to hit some shots tonight.”

Mohamed Gueye started in Johnson’s place, and like most times this season, when it’s his turn to play a bigger role, he performs well. He couldn’t miss, as he made 6 of 6 shots from the field and finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

“Every night is the same for me,” Guay said. “I’m just trying to come in and do my thing. Tonight I was fully prepared with the threes, and I made them, so hopefully next time I’ll be fully prepared as well.”

The third quarter changed the situation for the Hawks and a 25-5 run gave them a 24-point lead. CJ McCollum led the way in the bucket-getting category and scored 13 points in that quarter alone.

“The whole team stepped up defensively and got some stops, and were able to get out and get some easier, better looks,” Snyder said. “Obviously, CJ’s shot-making was really big during that time, too.”

The Hawks went ahead by a lot in the fourth quarter as the Warriors didn’t have enough juice to score in the fourth. With the win, the Hawks are still in the driver’s seat, and with the losses to Miami and Orlando, they still sit at No. 6 in the Eastern Conference standings.

“It was one of those things that we needed and it was a critical time for us,” Daniels said. “We needed a win, so I’m glad we got this win.”

Momentum continues to build for the Atlanta Hawks as their winning streak reaches a milestone not seen in over a decade. This surge has quickly become one of the most compelling stories shaping the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Atlanta extended its streak to 10 straight wins with a 124-112 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night. The result improved the Hawks to 38–31 and moved them up to eighth in the standings, solidifying their push for the postseason.

The run is the franchise’s longest winning streak since the 2014–15 season, when the Hawks won a franchise-record 60 games and had a historic 19-game streak. The comparison puts this current group in rare company in team history.

This streak developed during a dominant homestand at State Farm Arena, where the Hawks controlled the tempo and generated consistent offensive production. Wins over the Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando show the team’s ability to close out games and maintain momentum.

CA-CAW!

Hawks have won 10 consecutive games

This is Atlanta’s longest winning streak since the 2014–15 season. pic.twitter.com/JPg2RZ1ZqM

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 17 March 2026

Several players have fueled the uptrend. Jalen Johnson has been particularly impressive, averaging 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.1 assists over the last 10 games, and recording three triple-doubles during that span. CJ McCollum has averaged 16.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists over the last 10 games, providing consistent scoring and playmaking. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has also contributed significantly, averaging 22.3 points, 3.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds over that span.

Defensively, the Hawks have also improved. Dyson Daniels has recorded 24 steals over his last 10 games for an average of 2.4 per game, while Onyeka Okongwu has pulled down 8.5 rebounds per game during that span, giving the team a strong interior presence.

If this trend continues, the Hawks’ first season struggles will feel like a distant memory as their push for the Eastern Conference standings begins to gain real momentum.

It’s been a collective group effort for the Atlanta Hawks to get to where they are now, and the proof is in. He has led the league in assists for most of the season, as sharing the ball has been the driving force behind his success. Everyone from guard to center is committed to passing, and that’s a testament to how Quin Snyder wants them to play.

Dyson Daniels in particular has had a huge role moving the ball and his role has changed as the year has gone on. Since being included in the Trae Young trade, he has had the ball in his hands more, and is playing at a high level for his team. During the Hawks’ seven-game winning streak, Daniels had 50 assists and only four turnovers, which is very efficient for a guard.

As for Daniels, he credits his IQ and his teammates.

“A lot of my game is trying to get into the paint and find my teammates, whether it’s cutting, driving back, kick-out threes, things like that,” Daniels said. “They make my job easier by spacing, and I think we look really good when we run in transition. I want to keep our turnovers low and get the assists, so I hope we can keep that going.”

As far as his teammates, they’ve watched his progress in that role throughout the season, and it’s no surprise to them what he’s doing.

“He’s really steady,” Nichelle Alexander-Walker said. “He gets into the paint the way he wants, and he’s ready. He does a really good job of playing with two feet and staying in control, and I think that’s why he’s had success making plays for others, and he’s really starting to slow down, and the game is starting to slow down for him too.”

“Dyson has been huge for us,” Jalen Johnson said. “Not just on this winning streak, but all year long. Dyson brings every aspect of the game to the table, and he’s a guy that’s always ready to get better and always ready to learn. It’s just a testament to the work he’s done, and obviously, we need him to continue to be big for us.”

Not only is Daniel doing so on the offensive side, but he is still being a pest on defense. Over the past seven games, he has had 18 steals, and he guards the team’s best player almost every night.

After his best season last year, it almost feels like Daniel has gotten better, and he’s been a big factor for them through all the changes this season.

Since the Atlanta Hawks announced they would dedicate a night to the Magic City institution on March 16, there has been a tremendous discussion in the sports world about whether it is the right thing to do. Some people also expressed displeasure with the Hawks defending Magic City Night, leading the league to announce that it had canceled the event.

League commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that “canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.”

“When we learned of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale. While we appreciate the team’s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a wide range of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees.”

Luke Cornett was at the forefront of objecting to the Hawks’ Magic City Night

One of the first prominent people to object to the Hawks doing Magic City Night was Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs, saying the team should cancel the event. He would even go so far as to say that it would “reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, especially because of the potential objectification and abuse of women in our society.”

“I and others throughout the league were surprised by the Hawks’ decision and objected to it. We want to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. Celebrating strip clubs is not conduct consistent with that vision,” Cornette wrote.

The main reason for the outrage is that the Magic City institution is known as a strip club.

When the Hawks announced it, the event was meant to “celebrate the Magic City, the city’s iconic cultural institution” for the impact it has had on Atlanta’s culture. As a result, it remains to be seen how the discussion will play out now that the NBA has canceled the event, as the discussion has been polarizing.

The Atlanta Hawks’ unexpected collaboration with the Magic City garnered national attention this week, and former NBA guard Lou Williams fully supports the partnership.

Williams spoke during Friday’s episode of Run It Back and called the partnership a real celebration of Atlanta culture.

“We’re working on some details, but I’m in full support of it. Shout out to my good people and my relationships in the Magic. I love that Atlanta is embracing some of our culture in the city. It’s a nice link… I know a lot of people won’t understand it. A lot of people don’t understand it, but I’m glad it’s going global because now you all understand me. That’s what we do in Atlanta. I know some of these. Y’all’s imaginations.” Wild, but that’s what we do in the city. So shout out to my good people at Magic. I love seeing them come together and see them on this stage.

The Hawks unveiled the collaboration on Thursday, revealing “Magic City Monday”, a themed promotion tied to their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the broadcast set for NBCSN and Peacock. The team also revealed a co-branded hoodie featuring the Magic City name across the chest next to the Hawks’ logo.

“I’m glad it’s going global because now you all understand me. …I know you all have imaginations running wild.”

Lou Williams on the Hawks are paying homage to Atlanta’s famous strip club ‘Magic City’ when they host Orlando next month.

(via @RunItBackFDTV)pic.twitter.com/OGPxM2OHyR

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 27 February 2026

‘Lemon Pepper Lou’ legacy resurfaces as Hawks lean toward Atlanta culture

The pairing has attracted additional attention due to Williams’ own history with the club. He earned the nickname “Lemon Pepper Lou” after a widely publicized incident during the NBA’s 2020 COVID-19 bubble in Orlando, when he left the restricted environment to visit the Magic City and was photographed with rapper Jack Harlow before returning. The league imposed a quarantine on Williams, costing him his time with the Los Angeles Clippers at the time, and fans began referring to him by the nickname tied to the club’s signature Lemon Pepper Wings. Williams later adopted the phrase, even securing a trademark on “Lemon Pepper Lou” as part of his personal brand.

On the court this season, Atlanta (30-31) is ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Hawks picked up their third consecutive win on Thursday with a 126-96 win over the Washington Wizards and will look to continue their momentum when they host the Portland Trail Blazers (29-31) on Sunday at 6 pm ET.

Whether celebrated or criticized, the Hawks’ partnership with the Magic City has thrust a local cultural touchstone into the national spotlight, with Williams emphasizing that the move reflects something authentic about Atlanta.

The Atlanta Hawks got an injection of energy earlier this week when Jonathan Kuminga made his debut for the team and scored 27 points in a blowout win over the Washington Wizards. This was an interesting development for a Hawks team that is looking for anything to get excited about during a disappointing season.

Perhaps in an effort to increase the intrigue, on Thursday, the Hawks, in partnership with the famous local strip club, Magic City, announced a “Magic City Monday” night for the upcoming home game against the Orlando Magic.

As part of the promotion, the Hawks marketed a sweatshirt with the Magic City name on the front.

Magic on Monday? 👀 @Magic City pic.twitter.com/xwWrGyVE20

– Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) 26 February 2026

Needless to say, fans were losing it in the comments section on X, which was formerly Twitter.

“Our pockets are empty and I love it,” one fan wrote with a laughing emoji.

“An NBA team collaborating with a strip club. I’ve seen it all,” added another.

“James Harden has requested another trade,” another joked, noting the Cleveland Cavaliers guard’s well-documented affinity for nightly entertainment.

The Hawks have never been shy about securing partnerships with companies whose fans don’t necessarily associate with NBA teams, including hosting a Tinder “Swipe Right” night several years ago, allowing fans to matchmake in real time at games, along with other promotions.

At some point, Atlanta will have to hope that the product on the court will be enough to generate interest in the team. Currently, Atlanta sits two games under the .500 mark, on pace to finish in the play-in tournament for an astonishing fifth straight season.

However, the addition of Kuminga could give the Hawks another potential building block moving forward, and the emergence of Jalen Johnson this season is worth watching.

In any case, the Hawks will take the field next Thursday at 7:30 pm ET for a home game against the Washington Wizards.