On March 1, 2026, the Atlanta Hawks dominated the Portland Trail Blazers with a 135-101 victory. Onyeka Okongwu led the Hawks with 25 points, while CJ McCollum contributed 19 points. The Hawks' performance was exceptional, especially in the first quarter, where they set a season-high with 44 points, shooting 65% from the field and making 13 out of 15 free throws. This gave them a commanding 44-25 lead, which they maintained throughout the game, never letting the lead drop below 15 points.
Jonathan Kuminga, who was traded by Golden State, had a stellar performance off the bench, averaging 21.3 points and 7.7 rebounds. His windmill dunk late in the fourth quarter was a highlight, energizing the home crowd. The Hawks' strong performance continued with a 55% field goal percentage, out-rebounding the Blazers 54-38, and recording 36 assists compared to the Blazers' 23.
Despite the loss, the Trail Blazers' Jrue Holiday scored 23 points, and Donovan Clingan contributed 15 points and 15 rebounds. However, the absence of their leading scorer and first-time All-Star, Deni Avdija, due to a lower back injury, was a significant factor in the team's defeat. The Hawks' win moved them into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, having won four straight games by an average of 26.5 points.
Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers will face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, while the Hawks will travel to Milwaukee for their next game.
