Atlanta Hawks: Grades from being on the wrong side of history in Hornets loss

The Atlanta Hawks were on the wrong side of history when they lost to the Charlotte Hornets – player grades

The Atlanta Hawks were on the wrong side of history in their eight-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. LaMelo Ball, the third pick in the 2020 NBA draft, became the youngest ever player to collect a triple-double at 19 years and 140 days old.

This was a game that the Hawks kept close for most of the first half before the Hornets went on a 19-5 run over the final 5:07 to go into the locker rooms with a nine-point lead 50-59. John Collins was the best player of the first half with 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Atlanta Hawks could not stop the historic LaMelo Ball

De’Andre Hunter did a tremendous job on Gordon Hayward, who was their best player last game. Hunter held Hayward to just 13 points, well shy of his 44 point career-high he posted against the Hawks last time out.

P.J. Washington had a really good game for the home team with 22 points, seven rebounds, and six blocks. Caleb Martin was also solid with 15 points. However, it was Ball’s 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists that were too much for the Hawks to handle on this night.

They weren’t helped by the knee injury to Bogdan Bogdanovic that took him out of the game in the first half. Then the Hawks had a really scary moment when Trae Young stood in front of one of the Martin brothers in transition trying to take the charge and fell onto his wrist late in the third period. He went off immediately for treatment and, fortunately,  was able to come back on for the fourth quarter.