Game ID: 22500519
New Orleans Pelicans @ Atlanta Hawks
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ATL 37 28 24 28 117NOP 26 27 13 34 100
ATL vs NOP ScoutingATL vs NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
ATL availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 10 since 12/06, returns tonight: 17 min (71% of 24)
NEW Okongwu 31 to 36 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 12/31 after 10, 17 min since (71% of 24)
NEW Newell 11 to 17 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Young missed 3 since 12/29, not on tonight's roster
BACK Porziņģis back 12/31 after 10, 17 min since (71% of 24)
ATL availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restBACK Porziņģis back 12/31 after 10, 17 min since (71% of 24)
ATL availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restBACK Porziņģis back 12/31 after 10, 18 min since (75% of 24)
NEW Krejčí 22 to 28 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restBACK Porziņģis back 12/31 after 10, 19 min since (79% of 24)
NEW Risacher 22 to 27 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restNEW Risacher 22 to 27 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restOUT Risacher missed 2 since 1/09, out tonight
ATL availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Risacher missed 3 since 1/09, out tonight
NEW Gueye 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 30 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 11 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 12/23 after 2, 26 min since (122% of 21)
BACK Looney back 12/29 after 11, 24 min since (164% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/29 after 2, 12 min since (87% of 14)
NOP availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 5 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 5 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 20 min (94% of 22)
OUT McGowens missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 24 min (116% of 21)
OUT Jordan missed 31 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Matković missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 20 min (136% of 15)
OUT Alexander missed 12 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Looney back 12/29 after 11, 21 min since (143% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/29 after 2, 13 min since (96% of 14)
NOP availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 6 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 6 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 32 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 13 since 12/06, returns tonight: 2 min (20% of 12)
BACK Alvarado back 1/02 after 2, 20 min since (94% of 22)
BACK McGowens back 1/02 after 2, 24 min since (116% of 21)
BACK Matković back 1/02 after 3, 20 min since (136% of 15)
BACK Looney back 12/29 after 11, 22 min since (151% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/29 after 2, 14 min since (105% of 14)
NOP availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT Bey missed 2 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 7 since 12/23, returns tonight: 35 min (123% of 28)
OUT Murray missed 7 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 33 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK Alvarado back 1/02 after 2, 20 min since (92% of 22)
BACK McGowens back 1/02 after 2, 20 min since (95% of 21)
BACK Matković back 1/02 after 3, 22 min since (151% of 15)
BACK Looney back 12/29 after 11, 22 min since (151% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/29 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
BACK Alexander back 1/04 after 13, 2 min since (20% of 12)
NOP availability going into 1/07 · back-to-backOUT Bey missed 3 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 8 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 34 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 2 since 1/04, returns tonight: 5 min (34% of 15)
BACK Jones back 1/06 after 7, 35 min since (123% of 28)
BACK Alvarado back 1/02 after 2, 21 min since (96% of 22)
BACK McGowens back 1/02 after 2, 20 min since (95% of 21)
BACK Matković back 1/02 after 3, 18 min since (123% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/29 after 2, 11 min since (83% of 14)
BACK Alexander back 1/04 after 13, 2 min since (20% of 12)
NOP availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Bey missed 4 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 9 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 35 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 2 since 1/06, returns tonight: 2 min (15% of 12)
BACK Jones back 1/06 after 7, 35 min since (123% of 28)
BACK Alvarado back 1/02 after 2, 21 min since (96% of 22)
BACK McGowens back 1/02 after 2, 26 min since (122% of 21)
BACK Matković back 1/02 after 3, 17 min since (115% of 15)
BACK Looney back 1/07 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 15)
NOP availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Bey missed 5 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 10 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 2 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 36 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 1/02 after 2, 26 min since (125% of 21)
BACK Matković back 1/02 after 3, 15 min since (99% of 15)
BACK Looney back 1/07 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 15)
BACK Alexander back 1/04 after 13, 2 min since (17% of 12)
NEW Peavy 15 to 22 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restOUT Bey missed 6 since 1/02, returns tonight: 32 min (102% of 31)
OUT Jones missed 3 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 11 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 3 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 37 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 2 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Alexander back 1/04 after 13, 2 min since (17% of 12)
NEW McGowens 21 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Peavy 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/14 · back-to-backOUT Jones missed 4 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 12 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 4 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 38 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 3 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 2 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Bey back 1/13 after 6, 32 min since (102% of 31)
NEW McGowens 21 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Peavy 15 to 21 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 24 and Alexander-Walker at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murphy III at 26 and Williamson at 25 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Bey (3 straight), Murray (8 straight), Jordan (34 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 33 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-0 a night and Atlanta minus-5. Call it Atlanta 123, New Orleans 114.
12/31 vs MIN 126-102 — ATL notes
ATL won 126-102. ATL shot 49% (51 of 104) to MIN's 43%, 16 of 42 from three. ATL turned it over 8 times to MIN's 14. Johnson led with 34 (15 of 22, 3 of 6 from three); Okongwu added 17, Porziņģis 16. The hinge was Q2, 37-23: a lead of 7 became 21, and the lead reached 34. Porziņģis was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/02 @ NYK 111-99 — ATL notes
ATL won 111-99. ATL shot 48% (42 of 88) to NYK's 37%, 12 of 36 from three. Alexander-Walker led with 23 (9 of 20, 3 of 10 from three); Okongwu added 23, Johnson 18. The hinge was Q3, 34-23: a lead of 13 became 24. Krejčí was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/03 @ TOR 117-134 — ATL notes
ATL lost 117-134. ATL shot 46% (42 of 91) to TOR's 53%, 17 of 39 from three, and got to the line 19 times to TOR's 26. The glass went 36-48 against them. Alexander-Walker led with 31 (10 of 19, 6 of 11 from three); Johnson added 30, Daniels 20. Q3 was theirs, 36-30, the deficit cut from 7 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 104-81 against them. Alexander-Walker's -16 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 @ TOR 100-118 — ATL notes
ATL lost 100-118. ATL shot 39% (35 of 89) to TOR's 52%, 12 of 34 from three. Okongwu led with 17 (7 of 13, 2 of 3 from three); Risacher added 16, Alexander-Walker 14. Q3 was theirs, 24-25, but the other 3 periods went 93-76 against them. Johnson's -27 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 vs NOP 117-100 — ATL notes
ATL won 117-100. ATL shot 46% (44 of 95) to NOP's 44%, 18 of 47 from three, and got to the line 17 times to NOP's 25. Risacher led with 25 (8 of 13, 7 of 9 from three); Johnson added 19, Alexander-Walker 17. The hinge was Q1, 37-26: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 25. Gueye was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/09 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Watson at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Jokić (5 straight), Johnson (8 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 23 and Alexander-Walker at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-1 a night and Denver minus-11 and the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 118, Atlanta 115, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/11 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 29 and Butler III at 19 a game. Without Kuminga (11 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Johnson at 22 and Alexander-Walker at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Golden State 115, Atlanta 113, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/13 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 34 and James at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Reaves (8 straight), Hachimura (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Johnson at 23 and Alexander-Walker at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Risacher (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 39 percent from three to the Lakers' 30 and the line, where the Lakers take 25 free throws a game to Atlanta's 17. Call it Atlanta 115, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/15 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Avdija at 30 and Sharpe at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Grant (14 straight), Henderson (41 straight), Murray (4 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 21 and Johnson at 19 a game. Without Risacher (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Atlanta's 10 and the line, where Portland takes 22 free throws a game to Atlanta's 17. Call it Portland 116, Atlanta 115, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/31 @ CHI 118-134 — NOP notes
NOP lost 118-134. NOP shot 43% (42 of 98) to CHI's 51%, 12 of 38 from three, and got to the line 27 times to CHI's 34. Williamson led with 31 (12 of 19, 7 of 9 at the line); Poole added 26, Bey 16. Q2 was theirs, 30-31, but the other 3 periods went 103-88 against them. Queen's -19 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 vs POR 109-122 — NOP notes
NOP lost 109-122. NOP shot 45% (44 of 98) to POR's 45%, 8 of 30 from three, and got to the line 18 times to POR's 30. NOP turned it over 15 times to POR's 9. Williamson led with 35 (15 of 26, 5 of 8 at the line); Fears added 18, Poole 16. Q1 was theirs, 37-29, but the other 3 periods went 93-72 against them. They led by as many as 10. McGowens's -25 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/04 @ MIA 106-125 — NOP notes
NOP lost 106-125. NOP shot 47% (42 of 90) to MIA's 47%, 16 of 40 from three, and got to the line 8 times to MIA's 18. NOP turned it over 24 times to MIA's 15, and MIA turned those into 19 steals. Murphy III led with 27 (10 of 19, 7 of 15 from three); Fears added 21, Queen 13. Q4 was theirs, 29-32, but the other 3 periods went 93-77 against them. Williamson's -24 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 vs LAL 103-111 — NOP notes
NOP lost 103-111. NOP shot 44% (40 of 91) to LAL's 51%, 10 of 40 from three. Murphy III led with 42 (14 of 26, 6 of 17 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Williamson added 15, Queen 10. Q2 was theirs, 29-22, turning a 4-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 89-74 against them. Peavy's -10 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 @ ATL 100-117 — NOP notes
NOP lost 100-117. NOP shot 44% (38 of 86) to ATL's 46%, 8 of 28 from three, and went to the line 25 times to ATL's 17 — 16 points from the stripe to their 11. Williamson led with 22 (10 of 15, 2 of 7 at the line); Poole added 21, McGowens 20. Q4 was theirs, 34-28, the deficit cut from 23 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 89-66 against them. Matković's -18 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/09 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; McCollum at 20 and Sarr at 17 a game. Without George (7 straight), Watkins (5 straight), Kispert (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murphy III at 28 and Williamson at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Bey (4 straight), Murray (9 straight), Jordan (35 straight). One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the arc, Washington at 39 percent from three to New Orleans's 31 and the glass, where Washington has been plus-1 a night and New Orleans minus-3. Call it Washington 120, New Orleans 115.
1/11 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Banchero at 23 and Bane at 18 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (14 straight), Suggs (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murphy III at 35 and Williamson at 23 a game. Without Bey (5 straight), Jones (2 straight), Murray (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 18 times a game to Orlando's 15. Call it Orlando 118, New Orleans 112.
1/13 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Murphy III at 31 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without Bey (6 straight), Jones (3 straight), Murray (11 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Watson at 24 and Hardaway Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (2 straight), Jokić (7 straight), Johnson (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 18 times a game to Denver's 12 and the line, where Denver takes 26 free throws a game to New Orleans's 18. Call it New Orleans 117, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
1/14 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 32 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without Jones (4 straight), Murray (12 straight), Alvarado (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 27 and Clowney at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Williams (3 straight), Saraf (14 straight), Etienne (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 114, Brooklyn 113, Brooklyn keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ATLAN A. Newell
DD D. Daniels
JJ J. Johnson
KP K. Porziņģis
KR Krejci
LK L. Kennard
MG M. Gueye
NA N. Alexander-Walker
PO Porzingis
VK V. Krejčí
ZR Z. Risacher
NOPBM B. McGowens
DQ D. Queen
JF J. Fears
JH J. Hawkins
JP J. Poole
KL K. Looney
KM K. Matković
MP M. Peavy
MA Matkovic
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
ATL/NOP the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Hawks roll to 117-110 victory over Pelicans as word of Trae Young-to-Wizards trade breaks
ATLANTA -- — Zaccharie Risacher scored 25 points, Jalen Johnson added 19 and seven Atlanta players scored in double figures Wednesday night in a 117-100 win over the New Orleans Pelicans as the Hawks traded four-time All-Star Trae Young to Washington .
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 17 points, Kristaps Porzingis , Luke Kennard and Dyson Daniels added 13 points apiece, and Mouhamed Gueye finished with 10 as the Hawks snapped a two-game skid after losing consecutive games to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday and Monday.
The Hawks agreed to trade Young, who was listed out for the game against New Orleans due to a quad contusion, to the Wizards for a package including veteran CJ McCollum , a person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press. Corey Kispert is also headed from Washington to Atlanta, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade had not received the required league approval.
Young, who was on the bench in street clothes, is 10th in points, 12th in points per game, first in assists and first in assists per game since entering the NBA as the No. 5 pick in the 2018 draft.
Zion Williamson overcame a scoreless first quarter and led the Pelicans with 22 points on 10-for-15 shooting with eight rebounds and six assists. Jordan Poole added 21 points, Bryce McGowens had 20 and Micah Peavy and Jeremiah Fears each score 11 as the Pelicans lost their ninth straight game.
New Orleans' last win came on Dec. 22, a 119-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks that capped a five-game winning streak.
The Hawks raced to a nine-point lead at 37-26 in the first period and extended their lead to 63-53 by the break. Atlanta led 89-66 after three quarters and were never threatened in the fourth.
New Orleans shot 38 for 86 (44%) overall and 8 for 28 (29%) from long distance. The Pelicans were without Trey Murphy (back), who was coming off 42-point game in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
Up next Pelicans: At the Washington Wizards on Friday.
Hawks: At Denver Nuggets on Friday in the opener of a four-game trip.
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Associated Press Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.