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Back to NBA games · Oct 23, 2026

Atlanta Hawks at Charlotte Hornets, Oct 23, 2026

NBA · 2026-27Oct 23, 2026 · FinalRegular season

Atlanta Hawks

128AT

Charlotte Hornets

81
Hornets vs Hawks: every meeting
STORY

Final

From the verified box score; records count this game

Quick HitRout

Hawks bury Hornets with 18-0 run across halftime

Aaron Wiggins scored 13 in the second quarter off the bench as Atlanta's lead reached 49 in Charlotte.

NightlyHoops desk · Quick HitWritten by AI (Claude Opus 5.5) from the box score and play-by-play. Every number and name was checked against them.

CHARLOTTE — The Atlanta Hawks led for good from the first quarter and beat the Charlotte Hornets 128-81 on Friday. Jalen Johnson's cutting dunk put Atlanta ahead to stay at 11-9. Late in the second quarter, the Hawks started an 18-0 run that carried into the third and made it 74-43.

Aaron Wiggins came off the bench to score 19 on 7-of-9 shooting, 13 of them in the second quarter, and made six field goals in a row. Johnson added 19 points and eight assists. Dyson Daniels had seven steals as Charlotte turned the ball over 25 times.

Naz Reid led the Hornets with 17. Charlotte went without a field goal over the final 4:38 of the first half, and Atlanta's lead reached 49 in the last minute.

49
Hawks largest lead
18-11
3-pointers made, ATL to CHA
12-25
Turnovers, ATL to CHA
Who led, and by how much Hover or tap for the score at any moment

ATL ahead above the line · CHA ahead below

60504030201010Q1Q2Q3Q4ATL by 49CHA by 2
The margin through the game, from the play-by-play. Above the line ATL leads; below it, CHA.
Sources: the fact sheet this story was written from
  • GAME: Atlanta Hawks (ATL) at Charlotte Hornets (CHA), Friday, October 23, 2026, in Charlotte. NBA regular season.
  • FINAL: Hawks 128, Hornets 81. (ATL 128, CHA 81.) Final margin: 47.
  • POINTS BY QUARTER: ATL 33 35 29 31; CHA 20 23 19 19.
  • SCORE AT THE END OF EACH PERIOD (ATL-CHA): Q1 33-20, Q2 68-43, Q3 97-62, Q4 128-81.
  • HALVES: first half, Hawks 68, Hornets 43; second half, Hawks 60, Hornets 38.
  • LARGEST LEADS: ATL 49 (128-79, 0:58.2 left in the 4th quarter); CHA 2 (0-2, 11:33 left in the 1st quarter). Scores are ATL-CHA.
  • LEAD CHANGES: 3. TIES: 2.
  • Hawks went ahead for good with 8:27 left in the 1st quarter, at 11-9 (Jalen Johnson, cutting DUNK).
  • RUNS (8 or more unanswered points; each scorer's points in the run):
  • - ATL 11-0 from 8:47 left in the 1st quarter to 6:45 left in the 1st quarter, 7-9 to 18-9 (CJ McCollum 5, Jalen Johnson 3, Nickeil Alexander-Walker 3)
  • - ATL 18-0 from 3:49 left in the 2nd quarter to 8:18 left in the 3rd quarter, 56-43 to 74-43 (Jalen Johnson 6, CJ McCollum 2, Nickeil Alexander-Walker 4, Dyson Daniels 4, Onyeka Okongwu 2)
  • - ATL 8-0 from 1:23 left in the 3rd quarter to 11:47 left in the 4th quarter, 92-62 to 100-62 (Luguentz Dort 2, Jock Landale 4, Aaron Wiggins 2)
  • STRAIGHT TEAM POINTS BY ONE PLAYER (the other team may score in between):
  • - CJ McCollum scored 6 straight Hawks points, from 6:14 left in the 1st quarter to 5:48 left in the 1st quarter (19-11, 20-11, 21-11, 24-11).
  • - Aaron Wiggins scored 10 straight Hawks points, from 9:41 left in the 2nd quarter to 7:37 left in the 2nd quarter (45-25, 48-27, 50-30, 52-33).
  • - Corey Kispert scored 6 straight Hawks points, from 3:06 left in the 4th quarter to 2:24 left in the 4th quarter (119-75, 122-77).
  • DROUGHT: Hornets went 4:38 of game clock without a field goal in the 2nd quarter, from 4:38 to 0:00 left.
  • TEAM TOTALS:
  • - ATL: FG 48-95 (50.5%), 3PT 18-45 (40.0%), FT 14-22, 48 rebounds (12 offensive), 37 assists, 12 turnovers, 17 steals, 4 blocks, 61 bench points
  • - CHA: FG 30-87 (34.5%), 3PT 11-51 (21.6%), FT 10-12, 48 rebounds (19 offensive), 21 assists, 25 turnovers, 7 steals, 7 blocks, 46 bench points
  • PLAYERS, Atlanta Hawks:
  • - Aaron Wiggins (bench, 22 min): 19 pts, 1 reb (0 off), 1 ast, FG 7-9, 3PT 3-5, FT 2-4, 2 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 1 foul, +/- +8 | points by period 2-13-3-1
  • - Jalen Johnson (starter, 29 min): 19 pts, 7 reb (1 off), 8 ast, FG 9-16, 3PT 0-3, FT 1-1, 3 stl, 1 blk, 3 tov, 2 fouls, +/- +26 | points by period 5-8-6-0
  • - Nickeil Alexander-Walker (starter, 27 min): 14 pts, 3 reb (0 off), 5 ast, FG 5-12, 3PT 2-7, FT 2-2, 2 stl, 0 blk, 2 tov, 1 foul, +/- +43 | points by period 5-5-4-0
  • - CJ McCollum (starter, 22 min): 13 pts, 1 reb (0 off), 2 ast, FG 4-10, 3PT 2-7, FT 3-3, 0 stl, 1 blk, 0 tov, 2 fouls, +/- +27 | points by period 11-2-0-0
  • - Corey Kispert (bench, 10 min): 11 pts, 1 reb (0 off), 1 ast, FG 4-5, 3PT 3-4, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 1 foul, +/- +13 | points by period 0-0-0-11
  • - Dyson Daniels (starter, 23 min): 11 pts, 9 reb (5 off), 4 ast, FG 5-10, 3PT 0-1, FT 1-3, 7 stl, 1 blk, 0 tov, 2 fouls, +/- +32 | points by period 2-4-3-2
  • - Onyeka Okongwu (starter, 22 min): 10 pts, 4 reb (1 off), 1 ast, FG 4-8, 3PT 2-4, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 2 fouls, +/- +27 | points by period 3-0-7-0
  • - Luguentz Dort (bench, 19 min): 9 pts, 5 reb (0 off), 2 ast, FG 2-5, 3PT 1-3, FT 4-5, 1 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 2 fouls, +/- +8 | points by period 3-1-5-0
  • - Jock Landale (bench, 18 min): 8 pts, 6 reb (1 off), 4 ast, FG 3-8, 3PT 1-4, FT 1-2, 1 stl, 1 blk, 0 tov, 1 foul, +/- +12 | points by period 2-0-1-5
  • - Kingston Flemings (bench, 25 min): 5 pts, 6 reb (4 off), 8 ast, FG 2-5, 3PT 1-1, FT 0-0, 1 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov, 4 fouls, +/- +15
  • - Asa Newell (bench, 8 min): 3 pts, 1 reb (0 off), 0 ast, FG 1-2, 3PT 1-2, FT 0-2, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 0 fouls, +/- +8 | points by period 0-0-0-3
  • - Dorian Finney-Smith (bench, 8 min): 3 pts, 2 reb (0 off), 1 ast, FG 1-2, 3PT 1-2, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 0 fouls, +/- +8 | points by period 0-0-0-3
  • - Zuby Ejiofor (bench, 8 min): 3 pts, 2 reb (0 off), 0 ast, FG 1-3, 3PT 1-2, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 3 fouls, +/- +8 | points by period 0-0-0-3
  • PLAYERS, Charlotte Hornets:
  • - Naz Reid (starter, 25 min): 17 pts, 6 reb (1 off), 2 ast, FG 7-16, 3PT 3-8, FT 0-0, 1 stl, 0 blk, 7 tov, 1 foul, +/- -28 | points by period 7-8-2-0
  • - Grayson Allen (bench, 20 min): 11 pts, 2 reb (1 off), 3 ast, FG 3-8, 3PT 3-6, FT 2-2, 0 stl, 0 blk, 2 tov, 1 foul, +/- -16 | points by period 3-3-5-0
  • - Tidjane Salaün (bench, 23 min): 11 pts, 5 reb (3 off), 1 ast, FG 5-9, 3PT 1-5, FT 0-0, 2 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 1 foul, +/- -19 | points by period 2-0-0-9
  • - Brandon Miller (starter, 23 min): 6 pts, 2 reb (1 off), 0 ast, FG 2-14, 3PT 1-11, FT 1-1, 2 stl, 1 blk, 2 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -37 | points by period 1-5-0-0
  • - Hannes Steinbach (bench, 12 min): 6 pts, 5 reb (2 off), 0 ast, FG 3-5, 3PT 0-0, FT 0-1, 0 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 0 fouls, +/- -12 | points by period 0-0-0-6
  • - Royce O'Neale (bench, 17 min): 6 pts, 2 reb (0 off), 0 ast, FG 2-6, 3PT 2-6, FT 0-0, 1 stl, 0 blk, 0 tov, 3 fouls, +/- -17 | points by period 0-0-6-0
  • - Ryan Kalkbrenner (bench, 19 min): 6 pts, 7 reb (4 off), 1 ast, FG 3-4, 3PT 0-0, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 2 blk, 1 tov, 1 foul, +/- -13 | points by period 0-2-4-0
  • - Moussa Diabaté (starter, 21 min): 5 pts, 8 reb (4 off), 1 ast, FG 2-2, 3PT 0-0, FT 1-2, 1 stl, 1 blk, 1 tov, 0 fouls, +/- -27 | points by period 5-0-0-0
  • - Dennis Schröder (starter, 20 min): 4 pts, 4 reb (0 off), 3 ast, FG 1-5, 3PT 0-2, FT 2-2, 0 stl, 1 blk, 4 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -22 | points by period 2-2-0-0
  • - Liam McNeeley (bench, 12 min): 4 pts, 4 reb (1 off), 0 ast, FG 0-4, 3PT 0-2, FT 4-4, 0 stl, 0 blk, 3 tov, 2 fouls, +/- -12 | points by period 0-0-0-4
  • - Sion James (starter, 24 min): 3 pts, 2 reb (2 off), 5 ast, FG 1-7, 3PT 1-6, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 tov, 4 fouls, +/- -13 | points by period 0-3-0-0
  • - Christian Anderson (bench, 16 min): 2 pts, 0 reb (0 off), 2 ast, FG 1-5, 3PT 0-3, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 1 blk, 3 tov, 0 fouls, +/- -6 | points by period 0-0-2-0
  • - PJ Hall (bench, 10 min): 0 pts, 1 reb (0 off), 3 ast, FG 0-2, 3PT 0-2, FT 0-0, 0 stl, 1 blk, 0 tov, 1 foul, +/- -13
  • PLAYER FACTS:
  • - Aaron Wiggins scored 13 in the 2nd quarter.
  • - Aaron Wiggins made 6 field goals in a row.
  • SCORING PLAYS IN THE LAST 6:00 OF THE 4TH QUARTER (ATL-CHA after the play):
  • - 5:58 ATL +2 Corey Kispert (driving floating Jump Shot) -> 110-71
  • - 5:29 CHA +1 Liam McNeeley (Free Throw 1 of 2) -> 110-72
  • - 5:29 CHA +1 Liam McNeeley (Free Throw 2 of 2) -> 110-73
  • - 5:14 ATL +3 Dorian Finney-Smith (3PT) -> 113-73
  • - 3:58 ATL +3 unnamed -> 116-73
  • - 3:21 CHA +2 Hannes Steinbach (Layup) -> 116-75
  • - 3:06 ATL +3 Corey Kispert (26' 3PT) -> 119-75
  • - 2:41 CHA +2 Tidjane Salaün (6' floating Jump Shot) -> 119-77
  • - 2:24 ATL +3 Corey Kispert (25' 3PT) -> 122-77
  • - 1:45 ATL +3 Asa Newell (30' 3PT) -> 125-77
  • - 1:08 CHA +2 Tidjane Salaün (running DUNK) -> 125-79
  • - 0:58.2 ATL +3 Zuby Ejiofor (3PT) -> 128-79
  • - 0:44.3 CHA +2 Hannes Steinbach (driving Layup) -> 128-81
  • SEASON LINES THE GAME'S PREVIEW STATED (before this game):
  • - Nickeil Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points in 78 games last season.
  • - Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points in 72 games last season.
  • - Grayson Allen averaged 16.5 points in 51 games last season.
  • - Naz Reid averaged 13.6 points in 77 games last season.
  • ANGLE: Rout. VOICE: Quick Hit.
PREVIEW

Before tip

As it stood at tip · open to read

The Hawks play at the Hornets on Friday, Oct 23, at 7:00 PM EDT. The Hawks are 1-0 this season, the Hawks are 1-0 on the road this season, and the Hawks last played on Oct 21. Nickeil Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points in 78 games last season, Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points in 72 games last season, and the Hawks started Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum in their last game, on Oct 21. On the other side, the Hornets are 1-0 this season, the Hornets last played on Oct 21, and Grayson Allen averaged 16.5 points in 51 games last season. Naz Reid averaged 13.6 points in 77 games last season, and the Hornets started Sion James, Naz Reid, Moussa Diabaté, Brandon Miller and Dennis Schröder in their last game, on Oct 21. The Hornets won the last meeting with the Hawks 110-107 on Feb 11, at home, and since 2019-20, the Hornets are 13-12 against the Hawks in the regular season.

Written from the facts below by a fixed template.

Facts as of 12:02 AM EDT

  • The Hawks play at the Hornets on Friday, Oct 23, at 7:00 PM EDT.
  • The Hawks are 1-0 this season.
  • The Hawks are 1-0 on the road this season.
  • The Hawks last played on Oct 21.
  • Nickeil Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points in 78 games last season.
  • Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points in 72 games last season.
  • The Hawks started Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and CJ McCollum in their last game, on Oct 21.
  • The Hornets are 1-0 this season.
  • The Hornets last played on Oct 21.
  • Grayson Allen averaged 16.5 points in 51 games last season.
  • Naz Reid averaged 13.6 points in 77 games last season.
  • The Hornets started Sion James, Naz Reid, Moussa Diabaté, Brandon Miller and Dennis Schröder in their last game, on Oct 21.
  • The Hornets won the last meeting with the Hawks 110-107 on Feb 11, at home.
  • Since 2019-20, the Hornets are 13-12 against the Hawks in the regular season.

Starting fives

Confirmed by the league’s official lineups. Until then: in the NBA, the five those lineups list as expected; otherwise, the five each team started in its last game.

Atlanta Hawks

Last game’s starters · Oct 21

Not confirmed yet · checked 5:02 PM EDT

  1. DD
    Dyson DanielsG · 20.0 PTS · 4.0 REB · 3.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season
  2. JJ
    Jalen JohnsonF · 20.0 PTS · 14.0 REB · 6.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season
  3. OO
    Onyeka OkongwuF-C · 8.0 PTS · 5.0 REB · 7.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season
  4. NA
    Nickeil Alexander-WalkerG · 31.0 PTS · 4.0 REB · 3.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season
  5. CM
    CJ McCollumG · 19.0 PTS · 2.0 REB · 3.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season

Charlotte Hornets

Last game’s starters · Oct 21

Not confirmed yet · checked 5:02 PM EDT

  1. SJ
    Sion JamesG · 3.0 PTS · 3.0 REB · 0.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season
  2. NR
    Naz ReidC-F · 20.0 PTS · 11.0 REB · 7.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season
  3. MD
    Moussa DiabatéF · 17.0 PTS · 8.0 REB · 2.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season
  4. BM
    Brandon MillerF · 18.0 PTS · 3.0 REB · 1.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season
  5. DS
    Dennis SchröderG · 19.0 PTS · 4.0 REB · 6.0 AST · 1 GP · 2026-27 regular season

Injury report

The league’s official report: each listed player’s status and reason as reported, in report order.

Atlanta Hawks

NBA Official Injury Report · Oct 22, 6:15 PM EDT

  1. RayJ DennisQuestionableG League - Two-Way
  2. Keshon GilbertQuestionableG League - Two-Way
  3. Mouhamed GueyeOutInjury/Illness - Left Foot Fracture (Foot)
  4. Henri VeesaarOutInjury/Illness - Right ACL Tear
  5. Jalen WilsonQuestionableG League - Two-Way

Charlotte Hornets

NBA Official Injury Report · Oct 22, 6:15 PM EDT

  1. Kylan BoswellOutInjury/Illness - Right Knee Surgery (Knee)
  2. Kon KnueppelOutInjury/Illness - Left Hamstring Strain (Hamstring)
  3. Coby WhiteOutInjury/Illness - Left Calf Strain (Calf)
  4. Grant WilliamsOutInjury/Illness - Right Hamstring Strain (Hamstring)
SELECTED PLAYER
JJ

Jalen Johnson

ATL · Starter · 28:32 MIN

BOX SCORE

Player contributions

Choose any row to inspect

Atlanta Hawks at Charlotte Hornets: one row per player, by points, highest first. Team totals add up the player rows.
PLAYERMINPTSREBASTSTLBLKTOVPFFG3PTFT+/-
21:30191120117–93–52–4+8
28:32197831329–160–31–1+26
24:51176210717–163–80–0-28
27:21143520215–122–72–2+43
21:40131201024–102–73–3+27
9:40111100014–53–40–0+13
23:28119471025–100–11–3+32
19:35112300213–83–62–2-16
23:08115120115–91–50–0-19
21:40104100024–82–40–0+27
18:4395210122–51–34–5+8
18:1286411013–81–41–2+12
22:3162021222–141–111–1-37
12:0065000003–50–00–1-12
16:3762010032–62–60–0-17
19:0867102113–40–00–0-13
24:4856810342–51–10–0+15
20:5358111102–20–01–2-27
20:0944301421–50–22–2-22
12:0044000320–40–24–4-12
8:0831000001–21–20–2+8
8:0832100101–21–20–0+8
23:4132500141–71–60–0-13
8:0832000131–31–20–0+8
15:4420201301–50–30–0-6
9:4001301010–20–20–0-13
DNP———————————
ATL totalsSum of 13 player lines1284837174122148–9518–4514–22
CHA totalsSum of 13 player lines81482177251830–8711–5110–12

Team totals add up the player rows above. DNP: did not play. —: not recorded. Quarter scores are not shown.

SURPRISES

Against their usual

Regular season · Game Score against each player's usual line

ATLAtlanta Hawks

Every scored player stayed within the usual range.

CHACharlotte Hornets

4 of 5 scored players stayed within the usual range.