Game ID: 22500371
Atlanta Hawks @ Charlotte Hornets
Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM ET
Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CHA 37 43 27 26 133ATL 32 37 26 31 126
ATL @ CHA ScoutingATL @ CHA 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.
CHA availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Miller missed 2 since 12/01, returns tonight: 30 min (98% of 30)
OUT Williams missed 15 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 14 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 2 since 12/01, out tonight
OUT Peterson missed 5 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Simpson back 12/03 after 4, 4 min since (22% of 16)
BACK Salaün back 12/01 after 13, 20 min since (130% of 16)
CHA availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 16 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 15 since 11/07, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 3 since 12/01, out tonight
OUT Peterson missed 6 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/05 after 2, 30 min since (98% of 30)
BACK Simpson back 12/03 after 4, 16 min since (99% of 16)
BACK Salaün back 12/01 after 13, 21 min since (134% of 16)
CHA availability going into 12/12 · 4 days' restOUT Sexton missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 17 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Green missed 16 since 11/07, returns tonight: 17 min (111% of 16)
OUT Mann missed 4 since 12/01, out tonight
OUT Peterson missed 7 since 11/26, returns tonight: 6 min (58% of 11)
BACK Miller back 12/05 after 2, 30 min since (98% of 30)
BACK Simpson back 12/03 after 4, 20 min since (127% of 16)
BACK Salaün back 12/01 after 13, 20 min since (126% of 16)
NEW McNeeley 12 to 18 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Ball missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Sexton missed 3 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 18 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 5 since 12/01, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/05 after 2, 31 min since (103% of 30)
BACK Simpson back 12/03 after 4, 22 min since (135% of 16)
BACK Green back 12/12 after 16, 17 min since (111% of 16)
BACK Salaün back 12/01 after 13, 19 min since (123% of 16)
BACK Peterson back 12/12 after 7, 6 min since (58% of 11)
NEW McNeeley 12 to 19 min over the last 4
CHA availability going into 12/18 · 3 days' restOUT Ball missed 3 since 12/07, returns tonight: 29 min (104% of 28)
OUT Sexton missed 4 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 19 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 6 since 12/01, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 2 since 12/12, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/05 after 2, 33 min since (109% of 30)
BACK Simpson back 12/03 after 4, 21 min since (132% of 16)
BACK Green back 12/12 after 16, 16 min since (103% of 16)
BACK Peterson back 12/12 after 7, 6 min since (52% of 11)
CHA availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Sexton missed 5 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 20 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Mann missed 7 since 12/01, returns tonight: 18 min (141% of 13)
OUT McNeeley missed 3 since 12/12, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/05 after 2, 34 min since (111% of 30)
BACK Ball back 12/18 after 3, 29 min since (104% of 28)
BACK Green back 12/12 after 16, 14 min since (92% of 16)
BACK Peterson back 12/12 after 7, 6 min since (52% of 11)
NEW Simpson 16 to 23 min over the last 5
CHA availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Sexton missed 6 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 21 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT McNeeley missed 4 since 12/12, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 12)
BACK Ball back 12/18 after 3, 26 min since (93% of 28)
BACK Green back 12/12 after 16, 14 min since (92% of 16)
BACK Mann back 12/20 after 7, 18 min since (141% of 13)
BACK Peterson back 12/12 after 7, 6 min since (52% of 11)
NEW Knueppel 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Simpson 16 to 22 min over the last 4
CHA availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Sexton missed 7 since 12/05, returns tonight: 16 min (72% of 22)
OUT Williams missed 22 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Ball back 12/18 after 3, 26 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Green back 12/12 after 16, 15 min since (98% of 16)
BACK Mann back 12/20 after 7, 18 min since (139% of 13)
BACK McNeeley back 12/22 after 4, 6 min since (46% of 12)
BACK Peterson back 12/12 after 7, 6 min since (52% of 11)
CHA availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Kalkbrenner missed 2 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 23 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Ball back 12/18 after 3, 25 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Sexton back 12/23 after 7, 16 min since (72% of 22)
BACK Mann back 12/20 after 7, 16 min since (124% of 13)
BACK McNeeley back 12/22 after 4, 3 min since (29% of 12)
ATL availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 18 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 11/28, returns tonight: 20 min (84% of 24)
NEW Risacher 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Gueye 15 to 22 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Young missed 19 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 12/05 after 4, 20 min since (84% of 24)
NEW Gueye 15 to 20 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 12/12 · 5 days' restOUT Young missed 20 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 12/05 after 4, 20 min since (84% of 24)
ATL availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 21 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
ATL availability going into 12/18 · 3 days' restOUT Young missed 22 since 10/31, returns tonight: 20 min (72% of 28)
OUT Porziņģis missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
ATL availability going into 12/19 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/18 after 22, 20 min since (72% of 28)
ATL availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/18 after 22, 20 min since (72% of 28)
ATL availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Porziņģis missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/18 after 22, 23 min since (83% of 28)
ATL availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Porziņģis missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/18 after 22, 26 min since (92% of 28)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Knueppel at 22 and Bridges at 20 a game. Without Ball (3 straight), Sexton (4 straight), Williams (19 straight). 3 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Alexander-Walker at 20 a game. Without Young (22 straight), Porziņģis (3 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 112 a night to Atlanta's 125. Call it Charlotte 119, Atlanta 115, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/05 @ TOR 111-86 — CHA notes
CHA won 111-86. CHA shot 50% (37 of 74) to TOR's 37%, 13 of 36 from three, and went to the line 33 times to TOR's 13 — 24 points from the stripe to their 9. CHA turned it over 24 times to TOR's 19, and TOR turned those into 12 steals. Knueppel led with 21 (7 of 12, 5 of 9 from three); Salaün added 21, Bridges 15. The hinge was Q2, 35-18: CHA came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 29. McNeeley was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/07 vs DEN 106-115 — CHA notes
CHA lost 106-115. CHA shot 45% (38 of 85) to DEN's 52%, 14 of 46 from three. The glass went 47-35 for them. Bridges led with 24 (10 of 19, 0 of 6 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Miller added 17, Simpson 16. Q2 was theirs, 24-23, but the other 3 periods went 92-82 against them. Knueppel's -14 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/12 vs CHI 126-129 — CHA notes
CHA lost 126-129. CHA shot 53% (51 of 97) to CHI's 55%, 16 of 37 from three, and got to the line just 10 times against 19 fouls committed. The glass went 32-44 against them. Knueppel led with 33 (12 of 21, 5 of 12 from three); Bridges added 32, Miller 18. Q2 was theirs, 32-22, turning a 4-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 107-94 against them. They led by as many as 13. Diabaté's -17 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 @ CLE 119-111 — CHA notes
CHA won 119-111 in 1 overtime. CHA shot 44% (43 of 98) to CLE's 40%, 17 of 44 from three, and got to the line 21 times to CLE's 29. Knueppel led with 29 (11 of 19, 3 of 7 from three); Miller added 25, Bridges 20. The hinge was OT1, 8-0: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 17. James was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/18 vs ATL 133-126 — CHA notes
CHA won 133-126. CHA shot 54% (49 of 91) to ATL's 52%, 24 of 49 from three. Knueppel led with 28 (10 of 17, 6 of 12 from three); Ball added 28, Miller 26. The hinge was Q2, 43-37: a lead of 5 became 11, and the lead reached 24.
12/20 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 31 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Duren at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Knueppel at 25 and Bridges at 21 a game. Without Sexton (5 straight), Williams (20 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the line, where Detroit takes 31 free throws a game to Charlotte's 20 and the arc, Charlotte at 40 percent from three to Detroit's 35. Call it Detroit 120, Charlotte 114.
12/22 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 32 and Garland at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Mobley (3 straight), Merrill (14 straight). 2 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Knueppel at 25 and Bridges at 22 a game. Without Sexton (6 straight), Williams (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 39 percent from three to Cleveland's 30 and the line, where Cleveland takes 23 free throws a game to Charlotte's 18. Call it Cleveland 119, Charlotte 115, Charlotte keeping it close.
12/23 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Knueppel at 26 and Bridges at 21 a game. Without Sexton (7 straight), Williams (22 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; McCollum at 20 and Carrington at 18 a game. Without Coulibaly (2 straight), Kispert (10 straight), Cooper (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 43 percent from three to Washington's 32 and the turnovers, Charlotte giving it away 16 times a game to Washington's 11. Call it Charlotte 120, Washington 117, Washington keeping it close.
12/26 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bane at 24 and Banchero at 20 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (5 straight), Suggs (4 straight), da Silva (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Knueppel at 23 and Miller at 21 a game. Without Kalkbrenner (2 straight), Williams (23 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 42 percent from three to Orlando's 36. Call it Orlando 118, Charlotte 116, Charlotte keeping it close.
12/05 vs DEN 133-134 — ATL notes
ATL lost 133-134. ATL shot 52% (49 of 95) to DEN's 53%, 20 of 46 from three, and got to the line 16 times to DEN's 30. Alexander-Walker led with 30 (10 of 17, 5 of 9 from three); Porziņģis added 25, J. Johnson 21. Q1 was theirs, 41-23, but the other 3 periods went 111-92 against them. They led by as many as 23. Okongwu's -18 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 @ WAS 131-116 — ATL notes
ATL won 131-116. ATL shot 53% (52 of 98) to WAS's 51%, 13 of 39 from three. ATL turned it over 12 times to WAS's 20. The glass went 45-26 for them. Johnson led with 30 (10 of 18, 2 of 5 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Okongwu added 21, Alexander-Walker 17. The hinge was Q4, 34-23: a lead of 4 became 15, and the lead reached 20. Krejčí was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/12 @ DET 115-142 — ATL notes
ATL lost 115-142. ATL shot 46% (39 of 85) to DET's 58%, 11 of 36 from three. ATL turned it over 20 times to DET's 12, and DET turned those into 16 steals. Alexander-Walker led with 22 (6 of 14, 4 of 10 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Johnson added 19, Daniels 18. Q1 was theirs, 33-34, but the other 3 periods went 108-82 against them. Johnson's -25 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 vs PHI 120-117 — ATL notes
ATL won 120-117. ATL shot 43% (43 of 99) to PHI's 38%, 17 of 33 from three, and got to the line 21 times to PHI's 29. ATL turned it over 16 times to PHI's 11, and PHI turned those into 10 steals. Daniels led with 27 (13 of 19); Okongwu added 20, Krejčí 19. The hinge was Q1, 39-29: from level to 10 ahead.
12/18 @ CHA 126-133 — ATL notes
ATL lost 126-133. ATL shot 52% (48 of 92) to CHA's 54%, 11 of 37 from three. Johnson led with 43 (16 of 27, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Alexander-Walker added 28, Daniels 14. Q4 was theirs, 31-26, the deficit cut from 12 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 107-95 against them. Daniels's -13 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 vs SAS — 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 125 a night and allowing 128, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 25 and Alexander-Walker at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Castle at 22 and Fox at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 117 a night to Atlanta's 128 and the line, where San Antonio takes 26 free throws a game to Atlanta's 21. Call it San Antonio 121, Atlanta 120, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/21 vs CHI — 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 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 24 and Alexander-Walker at 20 a game. Without Porziņģis (5 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Giddey at 19 and White at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Chicago allowing 120 a night to Atlanta's 127. Call it Atlanta 121, Chicago 119, Chicago keeping it close.
12/23 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 134, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Johnson at 25 and Alexander-Walker at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Porziņģis (6 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 125, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; White at 20 and Giddey at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-2 a night and Atlanta minus-4 and the defense, Chicago allowing 125 a night to Atlanta's 134. Call it Chicago 125, Atlanta 123, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/26 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 131, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 26 and Young at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porziņģis (7 straight). 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Powell at 20 and Jaquez Jr. at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Herro (5 straight), Larsson (5 straight), Jović (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 115 a night to Atlanta's 131 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-0 a night and Atlanta minus-5. Call it Atlanta 120, Miami 118, Miami keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ATLAN A. Newell
DD D. Daniels
JJ J. Johnson
LK L. Kennard
MG M. Gueye
NA N. Alexander-Walker
OO O. Okongwu
TY T. Young
VK V. Krejčí
ZR Z. Risacher
CHABM B. Miller
DI Diabate
JG J. Green
KK K. Knueppel
KS K. Simpson
LB L. Ball
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diabaté
MP M. Plumlee
RK R. Kalkbrenner
SJ S. James
SA Salaun
TS T. Salaün
ATL/CHA 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
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- — LaMelo Ball hit seven first-half 3-pointers in his return from a right ankle injury, Charlotte had 18 in the opening 24 minutes to match the NBA and franchise records and the Hornets beat the Atlanta Hawks 133-126 on Thursday night.
After missing three games, Ball was 7 of 9 from 3-point range in the first half. He finished 8 of 11 on 3s and had 28 points and 13 assists in just over 29 minutes. Charlotte also made 18 3s in a half March 14 at San Antonio. Six teams have done it once.
The Hornets spoiled Atlanta star guard Trae Young’s return from a knee injury. Young had eight points and 10 assists in 20 minutes. He sprained the MCL in his right knee in a game at Brooklyn on Oct. 29.
Jalen Johnson just missed a triple-double for Atlanta, finishing with 43 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Charlotte was 24 of 49 on 3s overall, falling short of the franchise record of 26 set in the March game against the Spurs. Kon Knueppel matched Ball with 28 points, and Brandon Miller had 26. Knueppel was 6 of 12 on 3s, and Miller 4 of 7.
The Hornets improved to 9-18, winning consecutive games for the second time this season. On Sunday, they won at Cleveland in overtime.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 28 points for Atlanta. The Hawks dropped to 15-13. They beat Philadelphia at home Sunday.