The Atlanta Hawks suffered a rough outing on Tuesday night at home, falling 115–92 to the visiting LA Clippers in front of 16,470 fans at State Farm Arena.
From the opening tip, the Hawks struggled to find rhythm. They shot just 40% from the field, turned the ball over 16 times, and mustered only eight assists by halftime poor fundamentals that left too much burden to overcome.
An early 55–41 halftime deficit turned into a rout after the Clippers opened the second half with a 5-0 run and never looked back. Atlanta could only manage a modest third-quarter push (32 points), but it wasn’t enough to chip away at the double-digit deficit.
Guard Nickeil Alexander‑Walker led the Hawks with 21 points, a lone bright spot on a night where the supporting cast struggled for offensive flow. His offensive spark kept the Hawks within striking distance for stretches, but the supporting cast was unable to build momentum around him.
Forward Jalen Johnson was a late scratch due to right calf tightness. His absence along with sidelined teammates Kristaps Porziņģis (illness) and Trae Young (knee) left Atlanta thin in both scoring and defensive presence.
Backup output was minimal, with no other Hawk topping double digits, underscoring how shallow Atlanta’s rotation looked once depth issues. Without Young orchestrating the offense or Porziņģis spacing the floor, Atlanta often appeared hesitant, settling for contested jumpers or forcing drives into crowded lanes. The Clippers capitalized, turning 16 Hawks turnovers into transition opportunities that widened the gap as the night progressed.
Defensively, Atlanta had difficulty containing the Clippers’ combination of size and shot creation. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden dictated the tempo, picking apart mismatches and punishing defensive lapses. The Clippers’ dominance on the glasswinning the rebounding battle decisively created second-chance points and limited Atlanta’s ability to get out in transition, an area where the Hawks typically thrive.
Harden carried the lead for the Clippers with 27 points and nine assists, setting the tone on offense. Leonard added a steady two-way performance: 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. Ivica Zubac anchored the interior with 14 points and 17 rebounds, helping tilt the rebound and paint-control battle heavily in LA’s favor.
Earlier in the day, the Clippers officially parted ways with veteran guard Chris Paul, sending him home from Atlanta and effectively ending his hall-of-fame career in Los Angeles.
The loss drops Atlanta to 13–10 on the season and raises important questions about how the team can maintain competitiveness amid injuries. While the Hawks have shown flashes of growth this year, consistency remains elusive when health issues disrupt chemistry. As they prepare for their upcoming stretch of games, the focus will shift to finding sustainable scoring options, improving ball security, and tightening defensive rotations until their roster returns to full strength.