westhawaiitoday
The Atlanta Hawks made history on Friday night, cruising past the Charlotte Hornets 128-81 for the most lopsided win in franchise history. Jalen Johnson and reserve Aaron Wiggins paced the attack with 19 points apiece as the visitors dominated from start to finish.
The 47-point margin eclipsed the previous record of 46, set in a 126-80 triumph over the Sacramento Kings on November 15, 2017. Atlanta improved to 2-0 on the young season, while Charlotte fell flat in its home opener after winning at Brooklyn two nights earlier.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 14 points for the Hawks, while CJ McCollum added 13. Dyson Daniels stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds, and seven steals, and Corey Kispert chipped in 11 points off the bench.
Charlotte’s offense sputtered throughout, committing 27 turnovers. Naz Reid led the Hornets with 17 points in his home debut, and Grayson Allen added 11 points off the bench, also making his first home appearance. Reserve Tidjane Salaun scored 11 points.
By the end of the third quarter, the Hawks had built a 97-62 advantage. The Hornets struggled so much that they needed nearly 6 1/2 minutes to reach double digits in the fourth quarter.
Key Analysis
The Hawks’ record-setting performance underscores their early-season dominance, while the Hornets’ turnover woes and sluggish offense raise concerns. Atlanta’s balanced scoring and defensive pressure overwhelmed Charlotte, setting a high bar for the remainder of the campaign.
Originally reported by westhawaiitoday.