When the Atlanta Hawks emerged victorious in two consecutive games to begin the 2026-27 season, it felt as if they could do no wrong.
They were scoring, playmaking, defending and rebounding at a high level. After wins over the Magic and Hornets, though, they got smacked in the face by a haunting reality. Facing a true Western Conference contender, their biggest weakness was exposed.
They didn't, at all, look like a team capable of rebounding with the best of the best. When a team fails to succeed down low - with a reasonable sample size - much of the blame falls on the player tasked with the responsibility of anchoring the post. It's a center, usually, and Onyeka Okongwu fills that role for the Hawks.
However, Okongwu overcame his underwhelming stretch, delivering an epic performance when they needed him most.
Cleveland was unable to find an answer for Okongwu's excellence
On the second night of a back to back, one night removed from yet another loss - this time at the hands of the Miami Heat - Atlanta was set to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland expects to compete for a championship this season. This was going to be the Hawks' third-straight look at a contender. Being in their conference, this matchup held more weight than either of their previous two battles with the Rockets.
If they wanted any chance of taking home a much-needed victory, they needed much better all-around play from their center.
Luckily for Atlanta, Okongwu wasted no time making his impact felt.
He led the team in an up-and-down first half with 11 points and seven rebounds, and from halftime on, he didn't take his foot off the gas. In fact, he pressed even harder.
Right after coming out of the locker room for third quarter action, Okongwu knocked down two threes in two attempts. While he shot the ball extremely well during their win, there was another component of his attack that gave Atlanta a true advantage.
Okongwu dominated Cleveland on the boards - an unexpected twist
The Cavaliers are one of the biggest teams in the league. Okongwu is one of the smallest centers in the league. Normally, that would spell disaster.
His relentlessness on both the offensive and defensive glass helped Atlanta's undeniable lack of frontcourt size become hidden. He finished the night with 12 rebounds, along with a season-high 29 points.
They were the ones forcing the issue, not their opponents as everyone expected.
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