Hawks Blow Out Wizards 119-98 as Kuminga Delivers Statement Debut
State Farm Arena had plenty of storylines to follow on Tuesday night — Trae Young’s return to Atlanta chief among them — but it was newcomer Jonathan Kuminga who ended up owning the evening. Kuminga scored a season-high 27 points in his debut with the Atlanta Hawks, helping the home team cruise to a dominant 119-98 victory over the Washington Wizards on February 24, 2026. The win moved Atlanta to 29-31 on the season, while Washington continued to trudge through one of the more difficult campaigns in the NBA this year.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Hawks Set the Tone Early (ATL 35, WSH 20)
Atlanta wasted no time establishing control. The Hawks poured in 35 first-quarter points — their highest-scoring period of the night — while holding Washington to just 20. The fast start signaled to the 15,417 fans in attendance that this would not be a close game. Atlanta’s transition offense was clicking from the opening tip, and Kuminga looked immediately comfortable in his new surroundings.
Second Quarter: Wizards Steady, Hawks Maintain Lead (ATL 25, WSH 23)
Washington showed slightly more fight in the second quarter, cutting into Atlanta’s margin with a 23-point frame. The Hawks answered with 25 of their own, keeping the lead comfortably in double digits heading into the break. Atlanta held a 60-43 advantage at halftime — a cushion large enough that the outcome never felt in serious doubt.
Third Quarter: Hawks Put the Game Away (ATL 40, WSH 21)
If the first quarter set the table, the third quarter closed the door entirely. Atlanta erupted for 40 points in the period — their biggest quarter of the game — while limiting Washington to just 21. The 19-point third-quarter swing pushed Atlanta’s lead to its widest margin of the night and effectively ended any remaining suspense. It was a decisive, professional stretch of basketball from a Hawks team that badly needed a convincing win.
Fourth Quarter: Starters Rest, Wizards Make Cosmetic Gains (ATL 19, WSH 34)
With the game long decided, Atlanta’s starters saw reduced fourth-quarter minutes, allowing Washington to post a 34-19 frame. The Wizards’ garbage-time push did nothing to change the final story. Atlanta held on comfortably for the 21-point victory.
Key Performers
Jonathan Kuminga — ATL | 27 PTS, 7 REB
The night belonged to Kuminga. The former Golden State Warrior made an immediate impression in his Hawks debut, posting 27 points and 7 rebounds to earn the game’s top rating. His ability to attack the paint and create off the dribble gave Atlanta a different dimension offensively, and the crowd responded accordingly. If this performance is any indication of what Atlanta acquired, Hawks fans have reason to be encouraged.
Mouhamed Gueye — ATL | 11 REB (Team Leader)
Gueye was Atlanta’s top rebounder on the night, pulling down 11 boards to help fuel what was a dominant rebounding performance for the Hawks overall. Atlanta finished the game with 61 total rebounds — an eye-catching figure that speaks to their physicality and energy on both ends of the floor.
Onyeka Okongwu — ATL | 7 AST (Team Leader)
Okongwu led the Hawks with 7 assists, contributing to Atlanta’s impressive total of 33 team assists on the night. That kind of ball movement — combined with Kuminga’s individual brilliance — made Atlanta’s offense difficult to contain. Okongwu continues to grow into a multifaceted contributor.
Washington’s Leading Scorer — 18 PTS
Washington’s top scorer on the night finished with 18 points, but it was not nearly enough to challenge Atlanta’s collective effort. The Wizards simply lacked the personnel and cohesion to compete with a motivated Hawks squad playing at home.
Game Analysis
The numbers tell a straightforward story. Atlanta shot 39.3% from the field on 107 attempts, made 23 of 26 free throws (88.5%), and knocked down 12 three-pointers. While the Hawks’ three-point shooting (24.0% on 50 attempts) was below average, their ability to get to the free-throw line and dominate the glass — 61 total rebounds — more than compensated. Thirty-three team assists on 42 made field goals reflects an offense that moved the ball with purpose.
Washington, meanwhile, struggled to generate consistent offense against Atlanta’s defense. Allowing a team to score 40 points in a single quarter — as the Wizards did in the third — underscores the gap in depth and execution between these two franchises right now.
The subplot of Trae Young’s return to Atlanta added some theater to the evening, but the biggest takeaway was undeniably Kuminga’s arrival. A 27-point, 7-rebound debut gives Atlanta a dynamic forward option they did not previously have, and it raises legitimate questions about what this team’s ceiling might look like with a healthy, motivated Kuminga in the mix.
What This Means Going Forward
Atlanta improved to 29-31 on the season with the win, pulling closer to the .500 mark and keeping their playoff or play-in aspirations alive in a competitive Eastern Conference. Their road record of 17-15 suggests this is a team capable of winning anywhere, and adding Kuminga to the roster gives them a meaningful late-season boost. Washington, mired deep in the lottery race, will turn their attention to developing young talent as the season winds down. For the Hawks, Tuesday night was an encouraging sign that their second half of the season could look considerably different — and better — than their first.
