The Atlanta Hawks wrapped up their longest road trip of the season with a 123-115 loss to the Phoenix Suns. This defeat brings the Hawks back to .500 with a 19-19 record. While the loss is disappointing, it’s important to put the trip into perspective.
Going into this six-game, two-week road trip, projections had the Hawks winning two games. That’s exactly what they did, securing victories in the two games where they were favored. The other four games, including this one against the Suns, saw the Hawks as considerable underdogs.
West Coast trips are notoriously difficult for East Coast teams, and this one was no exception. The Hawks were without Jalen Johnson for four of the six games, including the matchup in Phoenix. Johnson’s absence has been significant, with the team struggling when he’s off the floor.
Breaking Down the Game
Defensively, the Hawks struggled throughout the game, allowing the Suns to score at an efficient clip. Phoenix shot 58% from the field and 39% from three-point range. The Suns were particularly effective in the paint and on floater-range shots, an area where the Hawks struggled offensively.
On the offensive end, the Hawks had a tale of two halves. They shot lights out in the first half, especially from beyond the arc, making 12 of 18 three-pointers. This hot shooting helped them take a four-point lead into halftime.
However, the second half was a different story. The Hawks’ offense sputtered, scoring just 43 points on 15 of 41 shooting from the field and 3 of 14 from three-point range. This offensive drought, particularly in the third quarter, allowed the Suns to take control of the game.
Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for the Hawks. Bogdan Bogdanovic had a strong game off the bench, providing a much-needed offensive spark. Zaccharie Risacher also played well, albeit in limited minutes, and David Roddy enjoyed an offensive mini-explosion in the first half.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Hawks’ performance against the Suns, tune into the Locked On Hawks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Hawks Podcast:
• Detailed player evaluations from the Suns game
• Discussion on rotation decisions and playing time distribution
• Preview of upcoming home game against the Houston Rockets
