Game ID: 22500682
Houston Rockets @ Atlanta Hawks
Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ATL 23 19 24 20 86HOU 23 20 35 26 104
ATL vs HOU ScoutingATL vs HOU 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 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Risacher missed 6 since 1/09, out tonight
ATL availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Risacher missed 7 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 2 since 1/19, out tonight
ATL availability going into 1/26 · 2 days' restOUT Risacher missed 8 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 3 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 2 since 1/21, out tonight
ATL availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Risacher missed 9 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 4 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 3 since 1/21, out tonight
ATL availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backOUT Risacher missed 10 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 5 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 4 since 1/21, returns tonight: 20 min (183% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Risacher missed 11 since 1/09, returns tonight: 22 min (99% of 22)
OUT Dennis missed 6 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Newell back 1/29 after 4, 20 min since (183% of 11)
ATL availability going into 2/03 · 2 days' restOUT Okongwu missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 7 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Risacher back 1/31 after 11, 22 min since (99% of 22)
BACK Newell back 1/29 after 4, 20 min since (183% of 11)
NEW Koloko 11 to 17 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Okongwu missed 3 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Dennis missed 8 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Risacher back 1/31 after 11, 22 min since (102% of 22)
BACK Newell back 1/29 after 4, 18 min since (166% of 11)
NEW Kispert 17 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Gueye 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Koloko 11 to 16 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Okongwu missed 4 since 1/29, returns tonight: 31 min (99% of 31)
OUT Dennis missed 9 since 1/19, out tonight
BACK Risacher back 1/31 after 11, 21 min since (97% of 22)
BACK Newell back 1/29 after 4, 18 min since (160% of 11)
NEW Kispert 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Gueye 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Koloko 11 to 16 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 20 min since (75% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (96% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/23 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 4 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 24 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 15 min since (95% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/26 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 5 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 24 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 15 min since (95% of 16)
NEW Okogie 17 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 6 since 1/16, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 14)
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 25 min since (94% of 26)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/29 · back-to-backBACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 25 min since (94% of 26)
BACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 1 min since (6% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 4 min since (33% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 4 min since (33% of 14)
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 9 min since (64% of 14)
HOU availability going into 2/05 · back-to-backBACK Holiday back 1/28 after 6, 9 min since (69% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 23 and Alexander-Walker at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Risacher (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Sengun at 21 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 41 percent from three to Houston's 37. Call it Atlanta 115, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
1/21 @ MEM 124-122 — ATL notes
ATL won 124-122. ATL shot 47% (43 of 92) to MEM's 46%, 20 of 45 from three. Johnson led with 32 (10 of 21, 2 of 6 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Okongwu added 18, Kennard 18. The hinge was Q2, 35-27: ATL came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 7.
1/23 vs PHX 110-103 — ATL notes
ATL won 110-103. ATL shot 53% (43 of 81) to PHX's 44%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 16 times to PHX's 9 — 11 points from the stripe to their 8. ATL turned it over 21 times to PHX's 12, and PHX turned those into 15 steals. Okongwu led with 25 (9 of 15, 3 of 5 from three); Johnson added 23, McCollum 21. The hinge was Q4, 26-12: ATL came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 7. Daniels was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/26 vs IND 132-116 — ATL notes
ATL won 132-116. ATL shot 50% (49 of 98) to IND's 46%, 18 of 43 from three, and got to the line 17 times to IND's 25. McCollum led with 23 (9 of 15, 5 of 7 from three); Daniels added 22, Alexander-Walker 21. The hinge was Q4, 37-24: a lead of 3 became 16. ATL trailed 60-64 at the half and won the second half 72-52. McCollum was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/28 @ BOS 117-106 — ATL notes
ATL won 117-106. ATL shot 48% (45 of 93) to BOS's 47%, 18 of 42 from three. ATL turned it over 9 times to BOS's 16. The glass went 38-51 against them. Alexander-Walker led with 21 (7 of 15, 5 of 12 from three); Johnson added 19, Okongwu 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-18: from level to 20 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Johnson was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/29 vs HOU 86-104 — ATL notes
ATL lost 86-104. ATL shot 37% (34 of 93) to HOU's 42%, 12 of 39 from three, and got to the line 7 times to HOU's 20. The glass went 46-59 against them. McCollum led with 23 (9 of 19, 5 of 11 from three); Alexander-Walker added 20, Kispert 17. Q1 was theirs, 23-23, but the other 3 periods went 81-63 against them. Alexander-Walker's -26 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/31 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 25 and Nembhard at 17 a game. Without Toppin (45 straight). 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 15 free throws a game; Johnson at 22 and McCollum at 19 a game. Without Risacher (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 42 percent from three to Indiana's 35 and the defense, Atlanta allowing 110 a night to Indiana's 118. Call it Atlanta 115, Indiana 114, Indiana keeping it close.
2/03 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Adebayo at 21 and Powell at 20 a game. Without Herro (10 straight), Powell (2 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Johnson at 22 and McCollum at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Okongwu (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-3 a night and Atlanta minus-6 and the arc, Atlanta at 40 percent from three to Miami's 33. Call it Miami 119, Atlanta 114.
2/05 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Johnson at 24 and McCollum at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Okongwu (3 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Sensabaugh at 15 a game. Without George (2 straight), Kessler (46 straight), Harkless (37 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the line, where Utah takes 25 free throws a game to Atlanta's 16 and the glass, where Utah has been minus-1 a night and Atlanta minus-8. Call it Atlanta 121, Utah 115.
2/07 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Johnson at 26 and Alexander-Walker at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Okongwu (4 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 104, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Miller at 20 and Ball at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Hall (14 straight), Salaün (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-11 a night and Atlanta minus-9 and the defense, Charlotte allowing 104 a night to Atlanta's 115. Call it Atlanta 115, Charlotte 114, Charlotte keeping it close.
1/22 @ PHI 122-128 — HOU notes
HOU lost 122-128 in 1 overtime. HOU took 10 more shots (99 to 89), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to PHI's 55%, 18 of 40 from three. Durant led with 36 (13 of 21, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Thompson added 17, Sheppard 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 7 to 2, but the other 4 periods went 106-95 against them. Sengun's -18 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/23 @ DET 111-104 — HOU notes
HOU won 111-104. HOU shot 49% (39 of 79) to DET's 48%, 9 of 26 from three, and went to the line 30 times to DET's 24 — 24 points from the stripe to their 17. Durant led with 32 (11 of 19, 5 of 11 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Sengun added 19, Sheppard 18. The hinge was Q3, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/26 vs MEM 108-99 — HOU notes
HOU won 108-99. HOU shot 45% (41 of 92) to MEM's 37%, 11 of 37 from three. Durant led with 33 (11 of 24, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Sengun added 33, Eason 17. The hinge was Q4, 32-22: HOU came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 9. HOU trailed 51-54 at the half and won the second half 57-45. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/28 vs SAS 99-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 99-111. HOU took 17 more shots (99 to 82), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to SAS's 54%, 8 of 23 from three, and got to the line 18 times to SAS's 24. Thompson led with 25 (11 of 23); Durant added 24, Sengun 18. Q1 was theirs, 36-26, but the other 3 periods went 85-63 against them. They led by as many as 16. Sheppard's -16 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 @ ATL 104-86 — HOU notes
HOU won 104-86. HOU shot 42% (39 of 92) to ATL's 37%, 12 of 31 from three, and went to the line 20 times to ATL's 7 — 14 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 59-46 for them. Durant led with 31 (12 of 22, 3 of 8 from three); Smith Jr. added 14, Sheppard 13. The hinge was Q3, 35-24: a lead of 1 became 12, and the lead reached 22. Sheppard was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/31 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 106, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 31 and Sengun at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Flagg at 26 and Marshall at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Russell (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 106 a night to Dallas's 114 and the line, where Dallas takes 28 free throws a game to Houston's 22. Call it Houston 115, Dallas 110.
2/02 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Siakam at 25 and Nembhard at 17 a game. Without Thompson (2 straight), Que. Jackson (2 straight), Toppin (46 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 101, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 101 a night to Indiana's 120 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Indiana plus-0. Call it Houston 114, Indiana 111, Indiana keeping it close.
2/04 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 103, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Sengun at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 97, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 14 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Pritchard at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 22 free throws a game to Boston's 14 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Boston plus-3. Call it Houston 109, Boston 108, Boston keeping it close.
2/05 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 106, shooting 42 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 21 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Miller at 24 and Ball at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Hall (13 straight), Salaün (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Charlotte wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Charlotte has been plus-14 a night and Houston plus-4 and the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 15 times a game to Houston's 10. Call it Charlotte 111, Houston 110, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ATLAN A. Newell
CK C. Kispert
CK C. Koloko
CM C. McCollum
DD D. Daniels
KR Krejci
LK L. Kennard
MG M. Gueye
NA N. Alexander-Walker
VK V. Krejčí
WA Wallace
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
ATL/HOU 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
Durant scores 31 points as Rockets dominate second half and roll past short-handed Hawks 104-86
ATLANTA -- — Kevin Durant scored 31 points and the Houston Rockets beat short-handed Atlanta 104-86 on Thursday night, ending the Hawks' four-game winning streak.
The Rockets dominated the second half after leading only 43-42 at halftime. Jabari Smith had 14 points and Reed Sheppard added 13. Sheppard's 3-pointer gave the Rockets their first 20-point lead, 90-70.
The Hawks held out two frontline starters with injuries. Center Onyeka Okongwu suffered a dental fracture when he was elbowed in the mouth in Atlanta's 117-106 win at Boston on Wednesday night. Forward Jalen Johnson was ruled out with left calf tightness.
The Hawks said Okongwu had a successful dental procedure on Thursday and also will miss Saturday's game at Indiana.
The Hawks already were missing center Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) and forward Zaccharie Risacher (left knee, bone contusion). Two-way rookie Asa Newell was recalled from G League College Park before the game. Center Christian Koloko , who signed with Atlanta on Jan. 17, made his first start in his fifth game with the Hawks.
CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 23 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 and Corey Kispert added 17.
Rockets center Alperen Sengun (right ankle sprain) had nine points and 13 rebounds after being listed as questionable.
Houston outscored Atlanta 35-24 in the third period and continued to stretch the lead in the final period.
Houston center Clint Capela scored 10 points in his first return to Atlanta since he was traded to the Rockets on July 6, 2025. Capela held up both hands in a wave to the fans after he was honored with a video tribute during a first-quarter timeout.