The Atlanta Hawks came away with a 135-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at American Airlines Center, using a strong start and steady offensive execution to stay in front most of the evening. Atlanta put up 37 points in the first quarter, led by 11 at halftime, then widened the margin in the third before Dallas put together a better closing stretch. The Hawks improved to 38-31 with the road victory, while the Mavericks dropped to 23-47.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown
First quarter: Hawks 37, Mavericks 30
Atlanta set the tone early with an efficient opening period, scoring 37 points and moving the ball well to create clean looks. Dallas kept pace for stretches, but the Hawks’ shot-making and tempo gave them a seven-point edge after one.
Second quarter: Hawks 30, Mavericks 26
The Hawks continued to build their advantage in the second, outscoring Dallas 30-26 to take a 67-56 lead into halftime. Atlanta stayed balanced offensively and kept pressure on the Mavericks’ defense, while Dallas had trouble putting together enough stops to trim the margin.
Third quarter: Hawks 34, Mavericks 26
The game moved further in Atlanta’s favor in the third. The Hawks added another 34 points in the period and took control with a 101-82 lead entering the fourth. Their ball movement remained sharp, and their efficiency from both the field and 3-point range continued to separate them from Dallas.
Fourth quarter: Mavericks 38, Hawks 34
Dallas showed more life in the final period and outscored Atlanta 38-34, but the deficit was too large to fully overcome. The Mavericks found a better offensive rhythm late, yet the Hawks had already done enough through the first three quarters to secure the result.
Key performers
Atlanta Hawks
CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 24 points and added seven assists, helping organize an offense that produced 36 assists as a team. Jalen Johnson delivered an all-around performance with 11 rebounds and nine assists, finishing just short of a triple-double while influencing the game in multiple areas. Overall, the Hawks’ offense was balanced and productive, with 55 made field goals on 102 attempts and 14 made 3-pointers.
Dallas Mavericks
Daniel Gafford led the Mavericks with 24 points and eight rebounds, giving Dallas an effective interior scoring option throughout the night. Ryan Nembhard finished with 12 assists, creating opportunities and helping the Mavericks reach 26 team assists. P.J. Washington led Dallas on the glass with nine rebounds.
Game analysis
The biggest difference was Atlanta’s offensive efficiency and consistency across the first three quarters. The Hawks shot 53.9% from the field and 40.0% from 3-point range, while also creating a strong assist total that reflected how well they shared the ball. Their 36 assists on 55 made field goals underscored a team-first approach that repeatedly put Dallas into rotation.
Dallas was solid offensively in several areas, shooting 48.8% overall, 39.3% from beyond the arc, and 86.2% at the free-throw line. But Atlanta generated more volume and more clean possessions, taking 102 field-goal attempts compared with 86 for Dallas. That extra opportunity gap, combined with the Hawks’ efficiency, made it difficult for the Mavericks to keep the score within reach.
The game was largely decided before the fourth quarter. Atlanta outscored Dallas 101-82 through three periods, which gave it enough cushion to absorb Dallas’ late push. For the Mavericks, the final quarter was encouraging offensively, but the earlier defensive issues proved too much to overcome.
Closing context
The win moved Atlanta to 38-31 and strengthened its position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, while also improving the Hawks to 19-15 on the road. Dallas fell to 23-47 and 14-21 at home, continuing a difficult season as the schedule winds down. With no season series context provided here, Wednesday’s result stands as a convincing road performance for Atlanta and another reminder that Dallas needs stronger defensive stretches earlier in games.
