The Atlanta Hawks began their 2021-22 regular season campaign with a victory as they easily dispatched the Dallas Mavericks 113-87 on Thursday night at State Farm Arena.
Trae Young scored 19 points and dished out 14 assists while Cam Reddish scored a team-high 20 points coming off the bench. For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic led with 18 points while Jalen Brunson added 17 points.
While many expected an offensive clinic for the Hawks’ home opener (perhaps 40-plus point performances on both sides), it was defense that came to the fore in this affair.
Respective offensive leaders Young and Doncic both struggled to score in the first half (Young 2-of-9, Doncic 2-of-7) and while other Hawks stepped up to make baskets (Reddish scoring 12 points, John Collins scoring eight) the Mavericks’ supporting cast struggled to do the same.