The Atlanta Hawks made a strong move this summer by signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker to a $15.2 million contract. They were aware of his skills as a shooter and defender but were pleasantly surprised when he scored 20 points per game, including a season-high 41 points in a 124-112 victory over the Orlando Magic. This win marked their 10th consecutive victory.
Alexander-Walker hit nine three-pointers and had 24 points by halftime, helping the Hawks build a 17-point lead over the Magic. With this victory, the Hawks moved into 8th place, now just 1.5 games behind Orlando, and secured their season series against them, going 3-0.
Hawks’ Offense Becoming Strong
During their 10-game win streak, the Hawks have averaged 122.9 points per game, with Alexander-Walker leading the team at 22.6 points per game. He is shooting 46.7 percent from three-point range on 8.3 attempts, enhancing the Hawks’ perimeter scoring.
The team’s improvement is also attributed to their new starting lineup, featuring CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, All-Star Jalen Johnson, and center Onyeka Okongwu, who has increased his three-point shooting to two attempts per game at a 38.3 percent success rate.
Additionally, Daniels and Alexander-Walker bring strong defensive skills. Off the bench, Jonathan Kuminga, who returned from an injury, added energy with seven points and eight rebounds.
Hawks’ Winning Streak Affects Standings
Despite a slow start to the season, the Hawks’ winning streak has moved them up from ninth place. They began their streak on February 22, still in ninth place going into Monday’s game. With a record of 37-31, they are now tied with the Philadelphia 76ers. This puts them in a better position to avoid the play-in tournament, as five teams in the Eastern Conference are closely bunched together from fifth to ninth place.
With Alexander-Walker performing so well, the Hawks’ offense has improved since trading Trae Young, making them a challenging opponent for anyone in the first round of the playoffs.