Game ID: 22501018
Atlanta Hawks @ Houston Rockets
Friday, March 20, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 35 27 39 16 117ATL 27 27 22 19 95
ATL @ HOU ScoutingATL @ 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.
HOU availability going into 3/11 · back-to-backBACK Smith Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 36)
NEW Sheppard 27 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 24 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restBACK Smith Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 34 min since (96% of 36)
NEW Sheppard 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 22 min over the last 3
NEW Capela 12 to 17 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restNEW Finney-Smith 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Capela 12 to 19 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 37 min (110% of 34)
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Capela 12 to 20 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 3/13, returns tonight: 16 min (120% of 14)
OUT Newton missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 37 min since (110% of 34)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Newton missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (120% of 14)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 5 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 15 min since (109% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 6 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 17 min since (125% of 14)
HOU availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Newton missed 7 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 36 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (116% of 14)
ATL availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Kuminga missed 3 since 3/04, returns tonight: 19 min (83% of 23)
OUT Dennis missed 21 since 1/19, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 2 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 4 since 3/01, out tonight
ATL availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 22 since 1/19, returns tonight: 3 min (25% of 12)
OUT Koloko missed 3 since 3/07, returns tonight: 3 min (26% of 11)
OUT Newell missed 5 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Kuminga back 3/12 after 3, 19 min since (83% of 23)
ATL availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Newell missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Kuminga back 3/12 after 3, 19 min since (83% of 23)
BACK Dennis back 3/14 after 22, 3 min since (25% of 12)
BACK Koloko back 3/14 after 3, 3 min since (26% of 11)
ATL availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Newell missed 7 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Kuminga back 3/12 after 3, 19 min since (83% of 23)
BACK Dennis back 3/14 after 22, 3 min since (25% of 12)
BACK Koloko back 3/14 after 3, 3 min since (26% of 11)
ATL availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Kuminga back 3/12 after 3, 19 min since (81% of 23)
ATL availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Dennis missed 3 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 3 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 9 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Kuminga back 3/12 after 3, 19 min since (81% of 23)
ATL availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 4 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Koloko missed 4 since 3/16, returns tonight: 7 min (59% of 11)
OUT Newell missed 10 since 3/01, out tonight
ATL availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 2 since 3/21, returns tonight: 42 min (119% of 35)
OUT Dennis missed 5 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 11 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Koloko back 3/23 after 4, 7 min since (59% of 11)
ATL availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Dennis missed 6 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Newell missed 12 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/25 after 2, 42 min since (119% of 35)
BACK Koloko back 3/23 after 4, 7 min since (59% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 22 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 26 and Johnson at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 37 percent from three to Houston's 28 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 15 times a game to Atlanta's 11. Call it Atlanta 114, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
3/11 @ DEN 93-129 — HOU notes
HOU lost 93-129. HOU took 10 more shots (97 to 87), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to DEN's 55%, 4 of 33 from three, and got to the line 14 times to DEN's 22. HOU turned it over 15 times to DEN's 9, and DEN turned those into 12 steals. Thompson led with 16 (8 of 14); Okogie added 12, Smith Jr. 11. Q2 was theirs, 27-29, but the other 3 periods went 100-66 against them. Sheppard's -26 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 vs NOP 107-105 — HOU notes
HOU won 107-105. HOU shot 43% (40 of 94) to NOP's 44%, 14 of 41 from three, and got to the line 17 times to NOP's 26. Durant led with 32 (13 of 24, 3 of 7 from three); Thompson added 23, Sheppard 18. The hinge was Q1, 28-24: from level to 4 ahead.
3/16 vs LAL 92-100 — HOU notes
HOU lost 92-100. HOU shot 48% (38 of 79) to LAL's 44%, 5 of 26 from three, and got to the line 15 times to LAL's 22. HOU turned it over 22 times to LAL's 11, and LAL turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 44-32 for them. Smith Jr. led with 22 (9 of 17, 2 of 8 from three); Thompson added 19, Durant 18. Q2 was theirs, 29-22, turning a 1-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 78-63 against them. They led by as many as 10. Sheppard's -13 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 vs LAL 116-124 — HOU notes
HOU lost 116-124. HOU took 15 more shots (91 to 76), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to LAL's 61%, 11 of 32 from three, and got to the line 17 times to LAL's 27. Sengun led with 27 (10 of 15, 6 of 6 at the line); Thompson added 26, Smith Jr. 18. Q3 was theirs, 37-22, turning a 12-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 102-79 against them. Finney-Smith's -13 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/20 vs ATL 117-95 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-95. HOU shot 51% (42 of 83) to ATL's 42%, 14 of 30 from three, and went to the line 28 times to ATL's 17 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 51-37 for them. Durant led with 25 (9 of 15, 3 of 5 from three); Smith Jr. added 23, Sengun 15. The hinge was Q3, 39-22: a lead of 8 became 25, and the lead reached 34. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
3/21 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 21 and Thompson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 34 free throws a game; Adebayo at 38 and Powell at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Wiggins (7 straight), Jović (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 34 free throws a game to Houston's 18 and the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to Miami's 125. Call it Houston 116, Miami 115, Miami keeping it close.
3/23 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Buzelis at 20 and Jones at 16 a game. Without Simons (13 straight), Okoro (6 straight), Collins (39 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 109 a night to Chicago's 124 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and Chicago minus-0. Call it Houston 117, Chicago 114, Chicago keeping it close.
3/25 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Randle at 23 and Dosunmu at 19 a game. Without Edwards (4 straight), Conley (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to Houston's 115 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Minnesota plus-1. Call it Minnesota 115, Houston 111, Houston keeping it close.
3/27 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 126, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson at 20 and Jerome at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 14 a night. Without Mashack (5 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Sengun at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-14 and the defense, Houston allowing 117 a night to Memphis's 126. Call it Houston 118, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
3/12 vs BKN 108-97 — ATL notes
ATL won 108-97. ATL shot 39% (35 of 89) to BKN's 47%, 12 of 40 from three, and went to the line 35 times to BKN's 22 — 26 points from the stripe to their 17. ATL turned it over 11 times to BKN's 20. The glass went 51-39 for them. Johnson led with 21 (7 of 15, 4 of 7 from three); Risacher added 19, Alexander-Walker 18. The hinge was Q1, 30-21: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 15. Risacher was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/14 vs MIL 122-99 — ATL notes
ATL won 122-99. ATL shot 49% (47 of 95) to MIL's 49%, 14 of 38 from three. ATL turned it over 13 times to MIL's 20. The glass went 47-37 for them. McCollum led with 30 (10 of 18, 7 of 10 from three); Johnson added 23, Alexander-Walker 20. The hinge was Q3, 35-26: a lead of 8 became 17, and the lead reached 26. Alexander-Walker was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/16 vs ORL 124-112 — ATL notes
ATL won 124-112. ATL shot 46% (43 of 93) to ORL's 42%, 16 of 40 from three, and went to the line 29 times to ORL's 23 — 22 points from the stripe to their 18. The glass went 54-40 for them. Alexander-Walker led with 41 (12 of 21, 9 of 14 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Johnson added 24, Okongwu 15. The hinge was Q1, 34-21: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 29. Alexander-Walker was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/18 @ DAL 135-120 — ATL notes
ATL won 135-120. ATL shot 54% (55 of 102) to DAL's 49%, 14 of 35 from three, and got to the line 14 times to DAL's 29. ATL turned it over 11 times to DAL's 18. McCollum led with 24 (9 of 14, 0 of 3 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Alexander-Walker added 22, Daniels 19. The hinge was Q3, 34-26: a lead of 11 became 19. McCollum was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/20 @ HOU 95-117 — ATL notes
ATL lost 95-117. ATL shot 42% (36 of 85) to HOU's 51%, 9 of 35 from three, and got to the line 17 times to HOU's 28. The glass went 37-51 against them. Alexander-Walker led with 21 (6 of 12, 1 of 3 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); McCollum added 17, Risacher 16. Q4 was theirs, 19-16, the deficit cut from 25 to 22, but the other 3 periods went 101-76 against them. Johnson's -27 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 vs GSW — 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 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 24 and Johnson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Podziemski at 17 and Porziņģis at 16 a game. Without Ste. Curry (20 straight), Moody (9 straight), Horford (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Golden State minus-4 and the defense, Atlanta allowing 109 a night to Golden State's 118. Call it Atlanta 118, Golden State 111.
3/23 vs MEM — 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 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 24 and McCollum at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jerome at 19 and Small at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Rupert (3 straight), Coward (2 straight), Mashack (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Memphis minus-13 and the defense, Atlanta allowing 112 a night to Memphis's 123. Call it Atlanta 121, Memphis 113.
3/25 @ 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 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Duren at 25 and Jenkins at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Cunningham (3 straight), Stewart (5 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 25 and Johnson at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Johnson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the line, where Detroit takes 27 free throws a game to Atlanta's 21. Call it Detroit 117, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/27 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brown at 33 and Tatum at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Vučević (9 straight), Walsh (6 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 21 and McCollum at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 107 a night to Atlanta's 117 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Atlanta plus-3. Call it Boston 116, Atlanta 114, Atlanta keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
IC I. Crawford
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
ATLBH B. Hield
CH C. Houstan
CK C. Kispert
CM C. McCollum
DD D. Daniels
GV G. Vincent
JJ J. Johnson
JL J. Landale
KW K. Wallace
MG M. Gueye
NA N. Alexander-Walker
OO O. Okongwu
ZR Z. Risacher
HOU/ATL 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
Rockets snap Hawks' 11-game win streak with a 117-95 rout as Durant scores 25
HOUSTON -- — Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 and the Houston Rockets snapped Atlanta's 11-game winning streak with a 117-95 victory over the Hawks on Friday night.
Alperen Sengun had 15 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds for Houston, which was just 4-6 in its previous 10 games and was coming off back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Lakers .
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 21 points, but the Hawks shot just 42% from the field and 26% (9 for 35) from 3-point range. Houston shot 51% overall and 47% (14 of 30) from deep.
CJ McCollum had 17 points and Zaccharie Risacher had 16 for Atlanta, which was riding its longest winning streak in over a decade that had positioned the team for a play-in berth.
The Rockets outrebounded the Hawks 51-37.
The Rockets ked 62-54 at halftime then pulled away by outscoring the Hawks 39-22 in the third quarter.
Onyeka Okongwu had three assists including the 600th of his career. He is averaging 3.2 assists per game this season, the most of his career.
Up next Hawks: Return home to play Golden State on Saturday night.