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Atlanta Hawks Sweep Back-to-Back Games Over Weekend

By Deke Lloyd

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 28: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks goes up for a shot during the first half of an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at State Farm Arena on February 28, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 28: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks goes up for a shot during the first half of an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets at State Farm Arena on February 28, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Hawks are in the midst of their best basketball of the season as the season progresses. Over the weekend, the team swept a back-to-back with the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trailblazers.

Coming into the weekend, the Hawks were on a two-game skid after losses to Philadelphia and Orlando in the middle of the week. To end the week, the Hawks were back home for a back-to-back with the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trailblazers. The Hawks were in danger of falling back into a long losing streak. Instead, the Hawks played some of their best basketball of the season over the weekend.

On Friday, the Hawks welcomed the Brooklyn Nets to Atlanta. In the final meeting of the season between these two teams, the Nets have won the first three. The Hawks were looking to avoid the season sweep on Friday.

The Hawks have been looking to put together a complete, cohesive performance together since the return of John Collins. On Friday, offensive speaking, the Hawks did just that. The game would finish 141-118 for the Hawks. John Collins led the team in scoring with 33 points. Collins also added 13 rebounds.

Along with Collins, the Hawks got great games from Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter. Reddish finished the game with 26 points while shooting 6 of 9 from three-point range. Hunter put up 18 points and 10 rebounds.

With John Collins taking the reigns, Trae Young got to sit back and play the facilitator role against the Nets. Trae finished with 22 points and 14 assists. The number of points the Hawks put up, 141, proved that Trae doesn’t have to be the main scorer for this Hawks team to thrive offensively. It’s amazing to see what this Hawks team can do when they provide Trae with a little help.

Following the Nets win, the Hawks had a quick turnaround with the Portland Trailblazers coming to Atlanta. The Nets game was such an incredibly complete offensive and defensive performance, the Hawks were needing to back it up with another good showing.

The Hawks continued to play well, and shoot the ball particularly well. In both games over the weekend, the Hawks shoot over 40 percent from three-point range. That’s a big difference for the Hawks, who have been one of the worst shooting teams in the league all season.

The Hawks would continue what they did on Friday when the Blazers came to town. Without their superstar Dame Lillard, the Blazers were going to need some heroic performances to outplay the surging Hawks.

The game stayed competitive throughout the entire affair. The Blazers went to halftime with the lead over the Hawks. The Hawks showed a lot of resilience and fight in the second half to take back and hold the lead over the Blazers to win the game on Saturday.

The back-to-back wins affirm how good the Hawks have been playing in 2020. With the arrival of John Collins and other players getting healthy, the team has been continuing to look like the team they were predicted to be. The Hawks will get a chance to win three in a row, a number they have yet to achieve, on Monday when the Memphis Grizzlies come to Atlanta.

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