Hawks fall flat in season opener versus Raptors

Following what many would consider a dream offseason for the Atlanta Hawks under first-year general manager Onsi Saleh, Wednesday night’s season opener was easily one of the most anticipated in decades. Unfortunately for those jumping on the bandwagon, the Hawks looked far too familiar in a sloppy, lopsided home loss to the Toronto Raptors.

There were a few silver linings. Jalen Johnson, returning from shoulder surgery that cost him half of last season, didn’t miss a beat. The 23-year-old forward led the team with 22 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds — a performance that served as a reminder of his All-Star potential if he can stay healthy.

Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 20 points and 7 rebounds in his Hawks debut, while second-year forward Zaccharie Risacher was one of the most impressive players on the floor. The rookie finished with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting and added a pair of rebounds, though it was a bit surprising that he only logged 21 minutes, particularly after Dyson Daniels picked up a couple of early fouls.

That’s about where the positives end. Atlanta shot just 42.2% from the field and, more alarmingly, allowed Toronto to put up 138 points — a Raptors franchise record for a season opener — on 56.8% shooting. It was a lackluster and, frankly, embarrassing defensive effort. Still, making sweeping conclusions after one game, especially the first one of the year, is rarely wise.

This is a team with a new identity and plenty of fresh faces. It was always going to take some time to gel. If the Hawks are still surrendering 130-plus points on a regular basis by the time 2026 rolls around, then it’ll be time to have a much more serious conversation about the core of this roster.

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