Hawks beat Cavaliers 114-111, winning home game that forced Dream to play WNBA Finals Game 6 in early afternoon
The game that forced the Dream to play WNBA Finals Game 6 during the day at State Farm Arena was a win for the Hawks.
The Atlanta Hawks secured a hard-fought 114-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a home game held at State Farm Arena on Thursday night. This win marked the Hawks' first home triumph of the season and came at a crucial juncture for the Atlanta Dream, who had their WNBA Finals Game 6 moved earlier in the day due to league logistics.
Hawks' standout performers included Onyeka Okongwu, who netted 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker with 25 points. The Cavs opened the game strongly, taking a 28-16 lead after the first quarter behind James Harden's 9-point effort and Sam Merrill's 8 points. However, Atlanta staged a remarkable comeback in the second quarter, outscoring Cleveland 30-16 to lead 46-44 at halftime.
The Hawks continued their dominance in the third quarter with an 11-2 run, bolstered by two three-pointers from Okongwu, which pushed them ahead 57-46. Despite a late rally by Cleveland, including a crucial three-point shot by Mario Hezonja, the Hawks held on to secure the win, thanks to a critical 3-point play and free throws by Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the final moments.
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