Jonathan Kuminga scored a season-high 27 points in his Atlanta debut and the Hawks led wire-to-wire, beating the visiting Washington Wizards 119-98 on Tuesday for their second straight win.
Kuminga, acquired from Golden State at the trade deadline, was 9 of 12 from the floor and scored 18 points in the third quarter. Coming off the bench, he finished with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Kuminga had not played since Jan. 22 because of a left knee bone bruise.
The good vibrations were tempered by the loss of All-Star Jalen Johnson, who left the game at 6:22 in the first quarter with a left hip flexor injury. Johnson, who finished with five points, three rebounds and two steals in six minutes, did not return and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.
The Hawks also got 16 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 12 points from Corey Kispert and 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists from Onyeka Okongwu, his 13th double-double.
The Wizards were led by reserves Will Riley, who scored 18, and Justin Campagnie and Jamir Watkins, who both scored 14. Champagnie missed the previous game with right knee tendinopathy.
Washington’s Trae Young, who played the first seven-plus seasons of his career with Atlanta, was on the bench but did not play, still nursing the right knee MCL strain that has kept him out since Dec. 27. The Hawks honored Young by showing a highlight video on the big screen that left him teary eyed.
Atlanta wasted no time taking command as the Wizards had five turnovers before taking their first shot. The Hawks led 7-0, then built an eight-point lead early and had a 35-20 lead after the first quarter.
The Hawks led by as many as 22 in the second quarter (57-35) and 60-43 at halftime. Atlanta continued to pull away in the third quarter, outscoring the Wizards 40-21 to take a 100-64 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Hawks have won two of three games against the Wizards. The clubs play for the final time Thursday in Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
