Conference finalists last year, Atlanta won their first play-in game once morest Charlotte last night (132-103) and will therefore have the opportunity to play for 8th place in Cleveland on Friday. For the Hornets, the season is over.
Trae Young struggled to get going (1/9 in the 1st quarter, 3/13 at halftime) but finished on 24 points at 8/24 and 11 assists, De’Andre Hunter 22 points (including 16 in the 3rd quarter) at 9/16 and 7 rebounds and 4 other Hawks players scored at least 13 points. LaMelo Ball finished as the Hornets’ leading scorer ahead of Terry Rozier (21 points at 8/22) with 26 points (5 rebounds, 8 assists) but he only shot at 7/25.
As for Miles Bridges he was ejected in the 4th quarter for 2 successive techniques and he threw his mouthguard at a young woman in the public (who also had nothing to do with another fan who spoke to the player) in joining the locker room. Ahead of up to 13 points in the 1st half, the Hawks (without John Collins and Lou Williams) only had 8 at the break.
But the momentum did not continue for Charlotte (37.8% on shots on the match) on the restart. Atlanta (54-41 advantage on the rebound, including 17 for Clint Capela) passed a 42-24 to his visitors in the 3rd, at 16/24 on shots, and set sail with a 102-76 advantage before playing the last 12 minutes.
