NEW ORLEANS — The Hawks snapped a four-game losing streak on Sunday with a 126-111 win over a Zion Williamson-less Pelicans team.
Like the Hawks, the Pelicans entered the night without several key rotational players.
Here are five observations:
1. The Hawks needed a win after dropping four consecutive games. After entering the locker room at halftime trailing, 59-58, the Hawks blew the doors open in the fourth quarter. They converted baskets on back-to-back-to-back-to-back possessions after forced steals that allowed them to get out in transition.
First, Jalen Johnson, who tied his career-high of 29 points, picked off Brandon Boston Jr. and finished with a one-handed slam that put the Hawks up by 10 points. Fifty-nine seconds later, guard Keaton Wallace had a steal and finished with a two-handed dunk. Then Larry Nance Jr. chipped away a pass from Jordan Hawkins before finishing with a layup. Hawks guard Trae Young then pushed the ball away from Brandon Ingram and found Johnson for a layup.