Onyeka Okongwu delivered a standout performance to help the Atlanta Hawks secure a hard-fought 114-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
The Hawks centre was in excellent form, finishing with 29 points and 12 rebounds to record a double-double and lead Atlanta to an important home win.
Okongwu was particularly impressive offensively, showing confidence with his shooting and making four three-pointers on the night. His contribution proved crucial in a closely contested game that went down to the final moments.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker also played a major role for Atlanta, adding 25 points, three rebounds and four three-pointers. Aaron Wiggins chipped in with 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists, giving the Hawks another valuable scoring option.
Cleveland had its moments and pushed Atlanta all the way, but the Hawks did enough to protect their advantage and come away with the three-point victory.
The result gives Atlanta a much-needed boost as the team looks to build consistency early in the season. Okongwu’s performance was the biggest positive, particularly with the way he took responsibility on the offensive end.
For the Cavaliers, it was a disappointing result after coming up just short, while Atlanta will be encouraged by the contributions from Okongwu, Alexander-Walker and Wiggins.
With 29 points and 12 rebounds, Okongwu certainly gave the Hawks plenty to celebrate on a night when every contribution mattered.
