By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Atlanta Hawks made sure they will be equipped with the much-needed morale boost for the upcoming Play-In stage after tearing the Brooklyn Nets, 133-109, during their NBA regular season showdown on April 11, 2025.
After the win, Atlanta was already assured of an NBA Play-In spot. All it needed to do was familiarize itself with the system that helped them score two dubs in their past three scheduled games.
It all starts with their franchise player, Trae Young, who initiates their high-octane attack with his incredible playmaking and shot-making.
Against Brooklyn, the premier floor general dropped another dominant double-double and tallied 24 points, 12 assists, and two steals in just 21 minutes of playing time.
Young kicked off Atlanta’s massive first-quarter run as the squad dropped 33 big points in just the first 12 minutes of action.
Unfortunately for Brooklyn, they didn’t have enough firepower to go toe-to-toe against Atlanta, as Cameron Johnson and D’Angelo Russell, their consistent offensive players, sat out due to respective injuries.
Little did the Nets know that another Atlanta storm was coming in the second frame. At the start of the quarter, the Hawks drained their first 12 attempts from the field and entered an unconscious state.
It took them four minutes to miss their first shot of the second, while already holding a commanding 26-point lead midway through the canto.
As early as the first half, Atlanta was already bound for a dominant outing as they began the third quarter with a lead that was hard to trim down.
Left with limited offensive options and hounded by frustrating turnovers, Brooklyn waved the white flag early in the fourth and could only watch the Hawks torch them from the perimeter and in the three-point line.
Backstopping Young in the one-sided victory was Rookie of the Year candidate Zaccharie Risacher who led all scorers with 38 points derived from six made three-pointers.
The young French prospect also made NBA history as his 38-point explosion is the most points scored by a rookie this 2024-2025 season. Risacher was a walking bucket against the Nets as his streaky shooting finally clicked from all cylinders, together with his attacking prowess.
The duo of Terance Mann and Onyeka Okongwu, who each tallied 14 markers, also made their impact felt in the huge win.
Atlanta will still have one game remaining before the NBA Play-In kicks off against the Philadelphia 76ers today, but even if they drop the matchup, they will still be guaranteed with a sure slot in the playoff eliminator.
