Atlanta HawksOpen full analysis
Denver NuggetsOpen full analysis
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Denver Nuggets 110–87 on January 9 at Ball Arena, delivering a dominant road performance that fell well short of the Vegas total of 229.5 points. J. Johnson led Atlanta with 29 points, while N. Alexander-Walker added 22, anchoring an offensive attack that shot 48.9 percent from the field and drained 16 three-pointers. The Hawks' ball movement and defensive intensity proved decisive: they distributed 31 assists against just 6 turnovers and held Denver to a 90.8 offensive rating while posting a 112.5 mark themselves. Denver's P. Watson scored 25 points and A. Gordon contributed 14, but the Nuggets managed only 41.7 percent shooting and 11 threes on a night when they surrendered 14 steals to an aggressive Atlanta defense. The fourth quarter proved the differentiator, with the Hawks outscoring Denver 36–12 in a quarter that effectively settled the contest. Denver's fourth-quarter collapse and defensive breakdown—allowing 112.5 points per 100 possessions—signals urgent adjustments needed as the Nuggets face a challenging stretch ahead.
