Trae Young matches LeBron James milestone in win over Hornets

Dyson Daniels provided a well-rounded performance with 22 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals, while rookie Zaccharie Risacher found his rhythm in the second half, knocking down four three-pointers (five in the game) to finish with 21 points. Atlanta’s balanced attack overwhelmed a depleted Hornets squad.

Charlotte entered the game missing key players LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. In their absence, DaQuan Jeffries and Seth Curry each stepped up with 19 points, but the Hornets struggled to keep up with Atlanta’s firepower. To make matters worse, Moussa Diabate suffered a lower-body injury late in the game and had to be helped off the floor, adding to the team’s injury concerns.

The loss dropped Charlotte to 17-51, leaving it second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Atlanta remains in the play-in mix but trails the Detroit Pistons—who currently hold the sixth seed and an automatic playoff berth—by five games. 

With time running out, every win matters, and Atlanta made sure to capitalize on a favorable matchup. The Hawks stormed out to a 20-7 lead in the opening minutes and extended their advantage to a staggering 100-65 by the third quarter, leaving no doubt about the outcome. 

Next, Young and the Hawks prepare for a high-profile showdown against the red-hot Golden State Warriors, who are 15-2 with Jimmy Butler on the court since acquiring him at the trade deadline.