The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Phoenix Suns 124-122 on Sunday, Nov. 16. They finalized a 22-point fourth-quarter comeback to sweep their West Coast road trip for a fifth consecutive victory. Instead of the Hawks surviving without All-Star guard Trae Young, they continue to thrive. Atlanta moved its record to 7-2 without Young and 9-5 on the season, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Here are the key story lines to take away from the Hawks’ impressive comeback win.
Hawks Complete Comeback Against Suns for 5th Straight Win
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Leads His Team in the Fourth
Atlanta led by 13 points in the second quarter, but the Suns responded immediately. They took a one-point halftime lead after a 21-7 run. Phoenix then outscored the Hawks 37-20 in the third frame to take an 18-point lead heading into the fourth.
When Phoenix held its largest lead at 22, Nickeil Alexander-Walker went to work. He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, including seven during Atlanta’s 20-0 run over four minutes. The Hawks’ guard finished with a season-high 26 points with four assists and two steals.
Alexander-Walker did most of his damage in the paint, constantly attacking the Suns downhill in the final frame. After the game, he mentioned he wanted to be more assertive after a slow start.
“I just had to be aggressive. One thing I didn’t do well in the first quarter, and I could feel it a little in the third, I was a little passive … They were playing good defense, but we didn’t put pressure on the rim. Once we started putting pressure on the rim, we started to see the results,” Alexander-Walker said after the game.
Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu also delivered two more dominant performances. Okongwu had 27 points on 9-15 shooting, two blocks, and two steals, while Johnson put up 25 points (9-13 FG), 10 boards, and seven dimes.
Zaccharie Risacher Ruled Out In Fourth
The Hawks forced Phoenix into five fourth-quarter turnovers, igniting some easy fastbreak buckets. Zaccharie Risacher picked Collin Gillespie’s pocket and took the ball all the way for a thunderous fastbreak dunk. However, he fell off the rim awkwardly as he tried to hang on, flipping over and hitting the hardwood directly on his left side.
Zaccharie Risacher with one of the scariest falls you’ll see in an NBA game
Thankfully, he apparently walked off on his ownpic.twitter.com/lHtneJ9j9b
— Hot Hand Theory (@HotHandTheory) November 17, 2025
He walked off the floor on his own power, but Atlanta ruled out Risacher for the remainder of the game due to a left hip contusion. Hopefully, the 2024 first overall pick can avoid a long-term absence.
The Hawks’ next contest is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 18, against the Detroit Pistons. If Risacher does not play, head coach Quin Snyder could start Vít Krejčí, who is shooting lights out, at small forward. The Hawks could also go with a big lineup, moving Johnson to the three and Okongwu to the four next to Kristaps Porziņģis. Porziņģis missed the game in Phoenix due to knee soreness.
Hawks’ Comeback Makes History
Atlanta joined the Eastern Conference in 1970. It never swept a West Coast trip of four games or more until this season. Alexander-Walker commented on why this Hawks squad was the first to do it.
“Our mentality … We push each other. JJ [Jalen Johnson] gets on us all the time. I get on the guys all the time. Everybody accepts the accountability that we give, and when you do that, you get results like this,” said the Hawks’ guard confidently.
Atlanta also reached four games above a .500 record for the first time since November of 2022, when they were 10-6. The Hawks also own a 7-2 road record. They look to carry their momentum from the road to State Farm Arena against the Pistons on Nov. 18.
Featured Image: Allan Henry-Imagn images
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