Onyeka Okongwu scored 25 points, setting the pace with 20 in the first half, to help the Atlanta Hawks to a 135-101 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday and extend their winning streak to four games.
The victory enabled the Hawks to reach the .500 mark (31-31) for the first time since Dec. 21. Atlanta went 4-1 on its homestand, gained a split of the season series with Portland and broke a three-game losing streak against the Blazers.
Okongwu was 9-for-15 from the field, 7-for-12 on 3-pointers and added 10 rebounds and six assists, picking up his 15th double-double. Jonathan Kuminga had 20 points and seven rebounds and CJ McCollum scored 19.
Atlanta got two starters back after they missed the last game with injury. Nickeil Alexander-Walker returned from a sprained ankle and scored 15. Jalen Johnson returned from a hip flexor and battled foul trouble to finish with eight.
Portland was led by Jrue Holiday with 23 points and Donovan Clingan, who had 15 points and 15 rebounds, his 24th double-double and 16th game with at least 15 rebounds. Atlanta won the battle on the boards 54-38.
The Trail Blazers have lost two straight games and are 1-2 on their five-game road trip.
Portland’s Kris Murray started and played only 4:20, failing to score, before leaving with a stomach illness. He did not return.
Okongwu got started early, making three 3-pointers as part of his 14-point first quarter. That helped spark Atlanta to a 44-25 lead, its second highest-scoring quarter of the season. Holiday kept the Blazers close with 14 points.
Atlanta led by as many as 25 points in the second quarter, going up 58-33 on a 3-pointer from Corey Kispert at 7:40. Portland answered with a 12-2 run to narrow the margin to 15 and cut Atlanta’s lead to 75-58 at halftime.
Portland got to within 16 points on four occasions in the third quarter, but the Hawks rebuffed each charge and held a 103-85 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
–Field Level Media
