Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and came up with a crucial defensive play in the final seconds to help the Atlanta Hawks hold on for a 113-110 win over the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.
Alexander-Walker put the Hawks ahead 111-110 with a layup at 1:42 and stripped Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel of the ball with 6 seconds remaining to preserve the win. The Hornets’ Miles Bridges missed a last-second 3-pointer that would have tied the game.
Atlanta led by 10 points with 7:59 left, but the Hornets grabbed a 110-107 lead with 3:15 remaining on Knueppel’s four-point play.
Alexander-Walker was one of four Atlanta players – all starters — with 20-plus points. Jalen Johnson scored 28 with 11 assists and eight rebounds, Dyson Daniels had 22 points and nine rebounds, and Onyeka Okongwu added 20 points and seven boards.
It was the eighth straight game in which Johnson had 15-plus points, five-plus rebounds and five-plus assists, the third-longest such active streak in the NBA. It broke a franchise record set by the late Lenny Wilkens in 1965.
Knueppel scored 28 points for the Hornets, including seven 3-point baskets. Collin Sexton added 22 points and Bridges scored 21.
It was the first of four meetings this season between the two clubs. Atlanta has won five straight games against the Hornets.
The Hawks led 28-25 after one quarter, but the Hornets took a 55-53 lead into intermission behind Sexton’s team-high 12 first-half points. The game remained tight throughout the third quarter until Atlanta scored the final seven points to take a 92-88 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Hornets had six players on the injured list: LaMelo Ball (right ankle management), Pat Connaughton (right calf), Ryan Kalkbrenner (left ankle), Josh Green (left shoulder), Brandon Miller (left shoulder) and Grant Williams (right knee). Guard Tre Mann returned after missing two games with left ankle soreness.
The Hawks played without Kristaps Porzingis because of load management and Luke Kennard (left hip inflammation). Porzingis, who has played in only five games, scored a season-high 30 points on Saturday in a road win over New Orleans.
