Nickeil Alexander-Walker Scoring Keeps Hawks Rolling in 139-132 Win

Nickeil Alexander-Walker's scoring carried the Atlanta Hawks again Friday night, as he put up 28 points in a 139-132 win over the Washington Wizards in an NBA Cup group-stage game at State Farm Arena. It was Atlanta's third straight victory and its second win over Washington in three days, and it moved the Hawks to 6-4 on the season.

Alexander-Walker has now scored 88 points across the three games, an average of 29.3. Below is a look at the numbers, how Friday's game played out, and what it means for the Hawks. Statistics come from Basketball-Reference box scores, and the analysis is ours. Remix Sports Media did not attend either game.

How is Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring for the Hawks?

Through Wednesday's game, Alexander-Walker led Atlanta at 21.7 points per game on Basketball-Reference's Hawks page, making 4.1 three-pointers per game on 10.1 attempts (40.7%). Since then, he has added another big night.

His three-game run: 34 points at Indiana on Nov. 2 (12-of-25 shooting, 9-of-15 from three, four steals, per the box score), 26 points at Washington on Nov. 4, and 28 points Friday. That adds up to 19-of-41 from three-point range (46.3%) across the three wins.

Friday's version was different. Alexander-Walker shot 7-of-20 from the field and 4-of-12 from three, but he went 10-of-10 at the free-throw line, including 6-of-6 in the fourth quarter, per the box score. That is a useful sign: his scoring is not solely dependent on the three-point shot falling.

What happened when the Hawks beat the Wizards again?

Atlanta scored 105 points through three quarters and held on for the 139-132 win. The Hawks shot 53.1% from the field (52-of-98) and 43.2% from three (16-of-37), and made 19-of-20 free throws. Washington kept the game within reach behind Kyshawn George, who scored 33 points with 18 in the fourth quarter, and Trae Young, who had 23 points and 10 assists in his first game in Atlanta since the January trade. Tre Johnson added 23 off the bench. Bullets Forever's recap noted that the Wizards played without Anthony Davis, who was out with a sprained ankle.

The supporting cast was just as important as the lead scorer. Luguentz Dort scored 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting with five threes. Onyeka Okongwu had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Aaron Wiggins added 19 off the bench, and Dyson Daniels recorded 12 assists with nine rebounds. Four Hawks scored 19 or more points. Wednesday's 120-105 win in Washington was powered by a 19-of-49 night from three-point range and 19 offensive rebounds.

Atlanta Hawks action at State Farm Arena.

Is the Hawks' offense too dependent on one scorer?

Analysis: Alexander-Walker's usage rate was 36.8% against Indiana, 29.0% in Washington on Wednesday and 32.0% on Friday, according to Basketball-Reference's advanced box scores. That is a heavy load for a player who is averaging just over 30 minutes. It has worked because the Hawks are winning, but the more encouraging part of Friday's game was the balance: Dort, Okongwu and Wiggins all had strong nights, and Daniels created for others.

The context is Jalen Johnson. Before an ankle sprain sidelined him, Johnson was averaging 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists in seven games, and he was inactive again Friday, his third straight missed game. Atlanta is 3-0 without him, but those wins came against a short-handed Indiana team and a Wizards team that played Friday without Anthony Davis. A healthy Johnson would give the Hawks a second primary creator and take some pressure off Alexander-Walker.

What concerns remain for the Hawks after the Wizards win?

Defense is the main one. Washington shot 50.5% from the field and went 18-of-34 from three-point range, and Atlanta's defensive rating in the box score was 128.1. In the two games against the Wizards, the Hawks gave up 105 and 132 points. That gap is a reminder that the offense is covering for some defensive lapses.

• Johnson's return: The Hawks are 3-0 without him, but his rebounding and playmaking would improve the team's depth. Watch the official injury report for his status.

• CJ McCollum's efficiency: McCollum shot 1-of-10 and scored four points Friday. Over the full season he is averaging 14.3 points, so one night is not a trend, but the bench scoring leaned on Wiggins.

• Rookie minutes: Kingston Flemings scored 11 points with six assists in 24 minutes Friday, and Zuby Ejiofor had 10 points and five assists in 15 minutes. Both are earning trust in the rotation.

• NBA Cup standing: The Hawks are 2-0 against Washington overall. Check the NBA.com game page for the official recap and Cup details.

Hawks fans outside State Farm Arena.

Where do the Hawks go from here?

Atlanta has won three in a row, and Alexander-Walker's scoring has been the main reason. The next step is making the offense less dependent on his shooting and tightening up defensively, particularly with the schedule continuing. Daniels and Okongwu were again the stabilizing presences on the glass and as playmakers.

Official updates are posted on the Hawks' news page on NBA.com. For more Atlanta coverage, catch up on the team's trade for Dorian Finney-Smith, the multiyear partnership with The Home Depot, and the Opening Night entertainment lineup.

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