Post by : Meena Ariff

In a notable display, Onyeka Okongwu matched a milestone set by Paul Millsap during the Atlanta Hawks’ NBA Cup clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Friday night.

Now in his sixth season with Atlanta, Okongwu has developed into an essential player, particularly in scoring and rebounding.

Okongwu played 34 minutes, achieving 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, shooting 8 from 14 and hitting 2 of 5 from beyond the arc.

His two blocks brought his career total to 348, tying him with Millsap for the 13th spot in Hawks' history, a significant achievement for the franchise.

The matchup was intense, with Atlanta surging to a 33-23 lead in the first quarter, only for Cleveland to take command by halftime. The Hawks rebounded effectively in the second half, showcasing swift ball movement, minimizing turnovers, and executing fast breaks efficiently. Atlanta registered 36 assists compared to Cleveland's 29, with the Hawks committing 14 turnovers while their opponents had 17.

Notably, seven players from Atlanta scored in double figures, with Jalen Johnson leading the way with a triple-double of 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker followed with 28 points, Zaccharie Risacher contributed 16, and Dyson Daniels added 10 points along with nine assists, rounding out a strong showing for Okongwu.

With this win, the Hawks improved to 12-8, sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference alongside Cleveland and Orlando, just trailing the New York Knicks. Atlanta’s next challenge comes on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 30 at 6 p.m.

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