The Atlanta Hawks were off on Christmas Day and back in action on Friday, December 26. The Hawks hosted the Miami Heat, looking to end a four-game losing streak. Atlanta has also lost five out of their last six games, including a pair of games to the Chicago Bulls.
Well, make that six of their last seven games as the Heat defeated the Hawks 126-111.
At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks and Heat were tied at 32. The teams came into Friday’s game with similar overall records (Miami was 15-15 and the Hawks were 15-16) and, from the looks of things early on, appeared to be evenly matched. Hawks guard Trae Young scored nine of the Hawks’ 32 points.
Atlanta had lost eight of its last 10 games, and part of the reason for that slide was slow starts to the games. Against the Heat, the Hawks were down 11-4 before Young made some shots to get them back into the game. Heat guard Norman Powell did the same for his team after making consecutive three-pointers late in the second quarter to give Miami an eight-point advantage. Mirin Fader recently profiled Powell for The Athletic.
Behind Powell’s 12 points, the Heat extended its lead to 63-51 at the half.
The second half began with a three-pointer from Young and the Hawks cutting the Miami advantage to five points at the 6:51 mark. A lot of that work was done by forward Jalen Johnson, who forced his way to the basket, scored, and was fouled. His three-point play brought Atlanta within four points, 79-75, with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter.
The quarter ended with the Heat ahead 90-84, and the fourth quarter began with the Heat extending that lead to double-figures within minutes. A reverse layup from Powell gave Miami a 10-point lead with seven minutes to play in the game. The Heat would have its largest lead of the game, 117-102, with just under four minutes to play. A wild running hook by Heat forward Pelle Larsson found the bottom of the net and sent some Hawks fans heading to the exits of State Farm Arena.
Hinesville, Georgia native Davion Mitchell, who started at the point for the Heat, led the way with six assists.
The New York Knicks will be in town tomorrow, Saturday, December 27. These games are the first time the Hawks faced the Heat and Knicks this season.
Atlanta is now 6-9 at home this season.
The last home game of the year will take place on New Year’s Eve when the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta native Anthony Edwards will be in town for an afternoon tip-off (2 p.m.). The new year will begin with a three-game homestand. The Hawks and Young will be in New York at Madison Square Garden to play the Knicks on January 2, followed by consecutive games in Toronto against the Raptors on January 3 and 5.