Hawks Snap Three-Game Skid With 114-111 Victory Over Cavaliers

Onyeka Okongwu delivered a standout performance with a season-best 29 points and 12 rebounds to power the Atlanta Hawks to a 114-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena. With the win, Atlanta halted a three-game losing skid to improve its record to 3-3, while dealing Cleveland its first loss after three consecutive victories.

The contest featured a dramatic finish as Donovan Mitchell pulled the Cavaliers within a single point with 20.6 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. However, Nickeil Alexander-Walker secured the home team's lead by sinking two crucial free throws with 15.3 seconds left on the clock. Mitchell had two separate opportunities to force overtime on Cleveland's final possession of the night, but both attempts missed their mark.

Alexander-Walker finished the night with 25 points for the Hawks, and teammate Aaron Wiggins added 20 points off the bench on 8-of-14 shooting. On the Cleveland side, James Harden paced the offense with 24 points, while Mitchell added 22 points, and Sam Merrill contributed four three-pointers.

The early going favored the visiting Cavaliers, who burst out of the gates and built a commanding 15-point advantage during the opening period. This marked the fourth straight game in which Atlanta fell behind by at least 15 points in the first quarter, during which the Hawks managed only 16 points—their lowest single-period output of the season.

Despite the sluggish start, Atlanta turned the momentum around in the second frame by clamping down defensively to limit Cleveland to another 16-point period. The Hawks engineered a decisive 19-2 run that erased a 35-24 deficit and turned it into a 43-37 lead.

The matchup took place as the second half of a basketball doubleheader at State Farm Arena, following the Atlanta Dream's 80-69 win over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals. Following this setback, the Cavaliers dropped to 3-2 on the young season as both teams continue navigating their early schedules.