Brad Rowland here, the host of the daily Locked On Hawks podcast, with your daily Locked On Hawks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Hawks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
A Win is a Win for the Hawks in Utah
Jan 7, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) shoots the ball during the second quarter against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images | Chris Nicoll/Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks arrived in Salt Lake City in need of a streak-busting victory. After an ugly performance in Denver and two straight lopsided losses in Los Angeles, a matchup against the Utah Jazz was, on paper, a reprieve on the schedule. However, road games are perilous in the NBA, no matter where they are, and the Jazz entered the game on a two-game winning streak.
From there, Atlanta built a 16-point lead in the first half, but nothing was easy on Tuesday for the Hawks. The scoreboard margin was seven points or fewer for the entire second half, including five points or fewer for the entire fourth quarter, and the Hawks needed to execute to emerge victorious. Fortunately, Trae Young was on Atlanta’s side, pulling the team out of the fire with a walk-off, 50-foot game-winner at the buzzer.
Seconds prior, Utah’s Collin Sexton tied the game with a triple after a broken play, and that was emblematic of the evening for the Hawks. Atlanta’s offense was quite solid, scoring more than 1.2 points per possession, and Young led the way with his third 20-20 game of the season. In the first half, the Hawks dominated the possession game and, while that flattened after the break, Atlanta’s shooting improved in the second half. Utah’s defense is porous, but the Hawks were more than effective in maintaining offensive efficiency despite the absence of Jalen Johnson.
On the other side, the Hawks had issues most of the night, particularly in dealing with Utah’s Lauri Markkanen. His combination of size and play-finishing ability plagued the Hawks, with Atlanta allowing almost 50 three-point attempts and yielding a high volume of quality looks. Inside the arc, the Hawks were potent, holding the Jazz to under 50 percent shooting at the rim and fewer than 40 points in the paint in the game, but Utah’s perimeter shooting was the great equalizer in a game that was all too close.
Still, the Hawks were able to pull out the victory and avoid a fourth consecutive loss. The victory also pushes Atlanta back above the .500 mark for the season, and the Locked On Hawks Podcast will have you covered with detail from this game and more.
Jan 7, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts after a fouled was not called against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Smoothie King Center. | Matthew Hinton/Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
How can you know in the NBA if something’s real?
If a team really is on a sustainable upward trajectory, or if they’ve overachieved? If a player whose name has become synonymous with trade talks really wants out (or in somewhere else, depending on how you’re looking at it)? How can you tell the difference between talent and development, and when does it start to matter? And how do you know that regular season dominance will translate into postseason competence, let alone contention?
I’ve been thinking about NBA mirages, the things we will ourselves into believing over the course of a season, as a few of the league’s prominent storylines play out. What constitutes an NBA mirage is that it has justenough staying power at a distance, but like the real thing, when you start to interrogate it up close its corporeal outlines vanish.
Trades are a huge generator of NBA mirages. I hate to think how many ESPN’s NBA Trade Machine tool is pumping out per hour as the trade deadline approaches. Jimmy Butler’s request for a trade out of Miami is one of the reasons I started thinking about them, specifically, where they shift from fantasy to reality. The prospect of a trade, for Butler, is as solid as the car he gets in to drive himself to Heat games. For Pat Riley and the Heat’s front office, the trade’s an illusion (delusion, maybe, if you asked Riley). What’s real to them is Butler’s behaviour, which they emphasized by suspending him for seven games.
Does Butler, since then reported to have asked both the Bucks and the Grizzlies not to trade for him, make his potential trade more real by narrowing its scope? Or is he limiting himself and his chances of an exit — any exit — from Miami?
Shifting from trades to returns, Zion Williamson’s back on the floor in New Orleans. Williamson’s dunks, like his first in-game slam last night since early November, have a knack for calling to mind immediately the contours of the earth under your feet. I tend to curl my toes against the ground, checking it’s still there. Why then, does he make me think of mirages? The hope for Williamson, since he entered the league, has been consistency — in his health, his game, his career.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Feel Good Jalen Johnson shared an uplifting message for Trae Young following their victory over the Jazz, emphasizing teamwork and unity. (Soaring Down South)
Rumor The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly weighing various options as the trade deadline approaches. (Soaring Down South)
Analysis Who should take the last shot in a crucial Game 7 for the Hawks? Delve into the insightful breakdown. (Bleacher Report)
Must Read Amid Pacific wildfires, Steve Kerr and JJ Redick’s families have evacuated the area. (CNN)
Biz What the EuroLeague and IMG’s new deals mean for the future of basketball in Europe. (The Athletic)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Tuesday’s Key Fantasy Basketball Notes
Jan 7, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) signals to his team during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images | Sam Sharpe/Sam Sharpe-Imagn Images
Tuesday’s NBA action brought a mix of surprises and disappointments across seven games. The Phoenix Suns, despite their recent lineup changes, continue to underperform, raising questions about their strategy and team dynamics.
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a significant setback, losing to a depleted Dallas Mavericks team. This loss highlights ongoing concerns about the Lakers’ consistency and ability to compete against even weakened opponents.
In a thrilling finish, Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks showcased his clutch abilities by sinking a half-court shot to secure a victory. Young’s performance was stellar throughout the game, finishing with an impressive 24 points and 20 assists.
Injury Updates and Roster Moves
Several key players were sidelined due to injuries or illness. Jeremy Sochan of the San Antonio Spurs is out with a back issue, potentially impacting his trade value. Jerami Grant’s facial contusion continues to sideline him, opening up opportunities for players like Deni Avdija.
The Philadelphia 76ers are facing challenges with both Joel Embiid and Paul George out, though not due to a back-to-back situation. This absence further complicates the 76ers’ season, which has already been marred by inconsistency.
Ausar Thompson’s absence due to illness raises concerns, especially given his history of health issues. While the exact nature of his current condition remains unclear, fans and fantasy managers alike are hoping it’s not as serious as his previous bout with blood clots.
Waiver Wire Trends
The waiver wire has seen some interesting movement, with Bryce Sensabaugh emerging as the most-added player despite missing a game due to illness. Ryan Dunn and Nikola Jovic have also seen increased interest, though their long-term value remains questionable.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hawks podcasts.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks escape Salt Lake City with a walk-off win Topics for Episode 1882 include Trae Young’s 50-foot game-winning shot, another 20-20 game for Atlanta’s lead guard, the absence of Jalen Johnson, the Hawks’ defense on Lauri Markkanen, and much more.
One month to the NBA Trade Deadline Episode 1881 takes stock of Atlanta’s biggest needs, players on the roster who could be dealt, Jimmy Butler’s trade request in Miami, the salary cap situation for the Hawks, Tuesday’s game in Utah, and much more.
Undermanned Hawks blasted by Clippers for third straight loss Episode 1880 focuses on Saturday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Topics include the absences of Jalen Johnson and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the crazy on-off splits for Trae Young, a total offensive collapse, transition issues, and much more.
