Atlanta Hawks: 5 Takeaways from 124-123 Win vs. Hornets

Career Night for JC

After what felt like an interminably long return from injury, second-year player John Collins finally returned to the all-encompassing, world-beating form he produced during his rookie campaign, and Collins’s final stat line conveys that all-around impact: a new career-high of 23 points, 11 rebounds (marking his first double-double of the season), 4 assists, as well as the game-saving block on Kemba Walker:

That block was perhaps the most notable element of Collins’s night, as he completely left his supposed charge on defense (Cody Zeller) in order to block Kemba’s floater attempt as time expired — definitely the right play since Kemba’s mind was made up from the start. Truly a wonder to behold, as the question about JC coming out of the draft was always his defense. Perhaps this is a step to put those questions to rest.

Speaking of wonders, John the Baptist lived up to that moniker on multiple occasions against the Hornets, and he showcased his knack for finishing around the rim with a ton of tough finishes on the way to a new career-high in points. Sit back and enjoy these amazing highlights for JC: