Hawks, Onyeka Okongwu leave it all on the court, lose to Heat in Play-In

Young finished with 29 points and 11 assists, and Onyeka Okongwu 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks, who finished the season 40-42.

Here are five observations.

1. Okongwu gave the Hawks everything, playing a career-high 50 minutes in an effort to try to extend their season just a little longer. The Hawks center showed why he earned his spot as the team’s starting center, taking on the responsibility of matching up against Heat center Bam Adebayo.

The 24-year-old not only provided the Hawks with an offensive lift but he gave them their best look at limiting Adebayo. In the 10 minutes, Okongwu primarily defended Adebayo, he helped to hold the three-time All-Star to six points.

“This is the second year with Q (Quin Snyder),” Okongwu said. “I told him, being out there ‘If you need me out there, l’ll play the whole game if you need me to.’ I’ve conditioned my body and my mind, trained to develop.”

But Okongwu also did more than just slow Adebayo down. He handled calls for switches from Tyler Herro with confidence. Early in the Hawks comeback, he picked off Herro before taking it to the other end for a layup.

2. Okongwu’s burgeoning confidence in his 3-point jumper showed with him attempting a career-high eight 3-pointers. The Hawks have emboldened Okongwu to take those shots and earlier this season, Snyder said the center’s next step would to make them over contests.

At least two of Okongwu’s three triples were made with a Heat player contesting the shot within three feet of him.

“He’s earned, more opportunities, as he did tonight,” Snyder said. “He’s one of the guys that I feel can continue to get better, and can see his confidence growing. There are certain aspects of the game that he may not have even been as aware of, and he’s thrown himself into everything.”

3. While Okongwu played the entire second half, as well as the overtime period, the Hawks got a big lift from veterans Georges Niang and Caris LeVert. The two veterans helped to keep the Hawks afloat in the first quarter as many of the young guys worked through their jitters.

Niang fought his way to the basket all while playing through contact from the Heat players down low. He scored 13 points in the first half while making all but two of his seven attempts.

Meanwhile, LeVert hit a couple of big 3’s in the Hawks’ first big push toward the end of the first half to keep the game within single digit scoring.

“Georges is a great vet,” Okongwu said. “Talking to all the young guys, being that loud dude in the locker room just, being the vet for our team. Same with Caris. Hopefully, we can get Karis to come back next year. We love playing with him.”

4. The Hawks needed their presence with the young players on the team experiencing their first real minutes of meaningful basketball. Though Risacher has playoff experience in Europe, this entire first season in the league has been about adjusting to the NBA.

Mo Gueye also played his first set of significant minutes in postseason play after playing only two minutes in last season’s Play-In game.

Dyson Daniels has just a little bit of playoff minutes after getting spot minutes with Pelicans in the playoffs last season.

5. The Hawks did not get the result they wanted out of Friday’s game against the Heat but they could find enough positives to take away. Following the loss, the resounding message from Snyder, Young and Okongwu was the tangible strides in development from their young players.

Though it did not necessarily show in the contest, all three spoke highly of the body of work of rookie Risacher, Gueye and Dyson Daniels.

“I feel like we’ve seen a lot of growth, in like, Zaccharie throughout the whole year,” Okongwu said. “Me, Dyson, even Mo. I know we didn’t go to the playoffs, but to see those guys blossom into the players they are now can’t help but be proud of them. I’m so proud of these guys.”

Stat to know

Onyeka Okongwu finished this season with 28 double-doubles, the most double-doubles in a single season in his career

Quotable

“For me, personally, not making the playoffs is a failure for me, no matter who’s out there.” — Trae Young on his assessment of the year.

Up Next

The Hawks clean out their lockers and meet with the front office Saturday to discuss their offseason plans.