Overview of the Game
The Hawks sought to extend their winning streak to four games on the road but fell short in a contest against the Rockets. A sluggish first half proved insurmountable despite outscoring the Rockets by 10 points in the second half.
Struggles Beyond the Arc
The team’s inefficient three-point shooting appeared to be the decisive factor. With only 11 successful attempts out of 39, the shooting percentage hovered around 28%. A heavy focus on a zone defense by the Rockets disrupted Atlanta’s flow, and a particularly poor performance throughout the first three quarters was evident.
Challenges in the Paint
In the absence of key interior players, the Hawks were forced to rely on others to meet the demand. Despite moments of promise earlier in the week, substitute players were unable to contain Houston’s big men during critical stretches. One of the alternative bigs, brought in to cover missing talent, struggled and was ineffective during his limited time on the court, which led to extended minutes for another player in the role.
Rebounding and Second Chance Points
The deficit began to widen as the Rockets capitalized on second chance points in the first half. A burst of 20 points from offensive rebounds gave Houston early momentum. Although they failed to replicate this in the second half, the early dominance on the glass set the stage for the eventual outcome.
