Atlanta Hawks vs Charlotte Hornets February 13, 2023
The Hornets picked up their 3rd win over the Atlanta Hawks and have won the season series. The three wins over Atlanta mark the most wins the Hornets have over any team this year. They picked up the 16th win on the season in stylish fashion, holding the lead throughout the contest.
LaMelo Ball was masterful in the up-and-down affair. Ball’s 15 assists he added to his 30 points were a season high. The teams combined for 282 points in regulation, which seems fitting for two teams in the top 10 in pace and the bottom half in defense. Ball’s 47th straight game with a made three-pointer is the longest such streak in Hornets history.
While the Hornets held the lead the entire duration of the game, some late-game heroics from behind the arc got the Hawks within a single possession late. While Trae Young struggled to score at times (he didn’t hit his first 3-pointer until four minutes left in the game), he had plenty of help. Four different Hawks had at least 20 points and two more had double-figure scoring outputs.
The game was up for grabs late and a late 3-pointer from Gordon Hayward plus a brilliant block-and-score from Mark Williams helped sealed the game for Charlotte. Unlike the Denver game that saw the Hornets lose a double-digit lead and ultimately the game, the Hawks were never quite able to overcome their deficit. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak, the second longest of the season.