NBA: Trae Young, Hawks sweep season series with Hornets
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) gestures after making a three point basket against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Trae Young scored 31 points, Dyson Daniels added 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and the Atlanta Hawks clobbered the short-handed Charlotte Hornets 134-102 on Tuesday night to sweep the four-game NBA season series.
Zaccharie Risacher knocked down four 3s in the second half to finish with 21 points for the Hawks, who snapped a two-game skid.
DaQuan Jeffries and Seth Curry each had 19 points for Charlotte, which played without LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges.
READ: NBA: Trae Young scores 35, Hawks handle Hornets
HAWKS GET ROAD W 🔥
Trae Young: 31 pts, 5 3pm, 8 ast, 3 stl
Dyson Daniels: 22 pts (10-12 fgm), 7 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl
Zacch Risacher: 21 pts, 5 3pm, 8 rebDaniels now has more steals this season (194) than any player in the last 15 years 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/vH2tzzESXk
— NBA (@NBA) March 19, 2025
The Hawks led 70-57 at halftime, then Risacher hit four 3s in the third quarter — including three on three consecutive possessions — to quickly push the lead to 26. Atlanta’s lead ballooned to 100-65 late in the third quarter after Young hit a deep 3.
Risacher finished the third quarter with 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, along with three rebounds, a block and an assist.
Takeaways
Hawks: The Hawks entered the night 5 1/2 games behind the Detroit Pistons for sixth place in the East but still have time to make a run at them. But they’ll need to win the easy games and they took care of business against the Hornets.
Hornets: As if the Hornets needed anymore injury problems, backup center Moussa Diabate had to be helped off the court with about four minutes to play with a lower-body injury.
READ: NBA: Led by Dyson Daniels’ 25, Hawks defeat 76ers
Key moment
Onyeka Okongwu had 10 points in the first four minutes to set the tone as the Hawks bolted to a 20-7 lead and never looked back. He finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Key stat
Atlanta made 22 of 45 3-pointers.
Up next
The Hawks host the Warriors on Saturday and the Hornets host the Knicks on Thursday night.
