Cold Shooting, Rebounding Woes Cost Hawks in Loss to Streaking Hornets

ATLANTA — For much of the night, the Atlanta Hawks looked capable of ending one of the league’s hottest streaks. They traded runs with the Charlotte Hornets, rallied in the fourth quarter and briefly seized control with momentum on their side.

But the closing minutes told a different story. Atlanta’s offense stalled at the worst possible time, and Charlotte capitalized on extra possessions to pull away late, escaping with a win that stretched its streak to nine straight games.

A Zaccharie Risacher three-pointer with under eight minutes remaining had given the Hawks a narrow lead, energizing the home crowd and putting the Hornets on their heels. From there, though, Atlanta struggled to convert open looks while Charlotte consistently generated second chances.

By the final buzzer, the stat sheet revealed what the eye test hinted at all night: the battle on the glass had quietly tilted the game.

1. Rebounding Gap Defines the Night

The most telling number was the rebounding margin. Charlotte finished with a staggering plus-19 advantage, a differential that repeatedly extended possessions and limited Atlanta’s opportunities to push in transition. The Hornets grabbed 16 offensive rebounds compared to just five for the Hawks, turning misses into extra shots and wearing down Atlanta’s defense over four quarters. Several players made their presence felt inside. Moussa Diabate collected 15 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, while Ryan Kalkbrenner added four offensive boards of his own despite modest overall numbers. “The rebounding was a huge thing coming into the game,” Hawks forward Jalen Johnson said. “I just don’t think we did the best job on the glass tonight. I gotta be better on the glass, and we gave up some open looks too.”

2. Late Rally Falls Short

Despite the rebounding disparity, Atlanta still gave itself a chance. After falling behind by nine early in the fourth, the Hawks mounted a determined push, stringing together stops and finding rhythm offensively. Risacher’s three-pointer briefly put Atlanta ahead, capping a stretch that suggested the home team might steal the game late. But the momentum didn’t hold. The Hawks went cold from the field in the final minutes, missing shots they had converted earlier and struggling to finish possessions cleanly. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s extra opportunities proved decisive, allowing the Hornets to rebuild separation. Head coach Quin Snyder emphasized the need for sustained effort in those moments, pointing to rebounding and possession control as areas that could have swung the outcome.

3. Johnson Leads the Charge, Eyes Ahead

Individually, Johnson delivered one of his strongest performances of the season. He finished with 31 points, 25 of which came in the second half, helping fuel Atlanta’s comeback attempt. Even when his early shots didn’t fall, Johnson stayed involved by facilitating and attacking selectively. He described his approach as staying patient and letting the game come to him before ramping up aggression. “I might miss my first couple shots, but that opens up playmaking,” Johnson said. “When the time is right, I pick my spots and be aggressive.” Still, the effort wasn’t enough to overcome Charlotte’s control of the glass. The loss highlighted an issue that has lingered all season for Atlanta — rebounding consistency — and one the team knows must improve as the schedule tightens.