The Streak is Dead: Rockets Launch, Hawks Crash in H-Town
Well, it was fun while it lasted. All good things must come to an end—like your favorite Netflix series, that leftover pizza in the fridge, and apparently, the Atlanta Hawks’ 11-game winning streak.
The Hawks flew into Houston on Friday night looking like the hottest team in the NBA, only to realize that Kevin Durant still exists. The Rockets decided to snap their two-game skid by snapping Atlanta's soul in a 117-95 blowout.
KD and the Houston Launchpad
Houston had been playing like a team that forgot where the hoop was (4-6 in their last 10), but they found it in a big way against Atlanta. Kevin Durant notched 25 points, looking as smooth as a fresh jar of Jif, while Jabari Smith Jr. added 23.
The real star of the "Houston, We Have No Problem" show, however, was Alperen Sengun. He finished just one rebound shy of a triple-double (15 pts, 10 ast, 9 reb). We can only assume he’ll be staring at the box score tonight wondering which teammate "stole" that tenth board.
A Cold Night for the Birds
Atlanta entered the night with their longest winning streak in over a decade—a run so long that some fans had actually forgotten what a loss felt like. Nickeil Alexander-Walker did his best to keep the vibes alive with 21 points, but the rest of the roster shot like they were wearing oven mitts.
The Hawks hit a dismal 26% from deep. When you go 9-for-35 from three, you aren't winning a basketball game; you're just providing the home crowd with a lot of loud "clangs" to rhythmic music. CJ McCollum (17 pts) and Zaccharie Risacher (16 pts) tried to help, but the Rockets' 51% shooting was simply too much to overcome.
The Silver Lining (and the Third Quarter Meltdown)
If there’s a bright spot for the ATL, it’s Onyeka Okongwu, who recorded his 600th career assist. He’s averaging a career-high 3.2 assists per game this season, proving he’s becoming quite the nifty distributor for a big man.
Unfortunately, individual milestones don't stop 39-22 third-quarter explosions. Houston turned a competitive eight-point halftime lead into a 30-point-ish lead faster than you can say "Space City." The Rockets also dominated the glass 51-37, effectively grounded the Hawks for the night.
Up Next:
The Hawks have no time to mourn. they have to hop on a flight back to the ATL to face Golden State on Saturday night. Hopefully, the home rims are a little more forgiving.
