CHICAGO — In a remarkable performance, Keaton Wallace achieved a career-high of 27 points, leading a depleted Atlanta Hawks team to a 110-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday evening.
Wallace significantly surpassed his previous best of 14 points, contributing four 3-pointers along with six assists. Daeqwon Plowden made a strong impression in his NBA debut by scoring 19 points after being elevated from the G League’s College Park Skyhawks.
Dyson Daniels also played a pivotal role in the game, scoring 18 points, while Onyeka Okongwu contributed 14 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. The Hawks secured their third win in their last four games despite the absence of star player Trae Young, who was sidelined due to a bruised right rib sustained during a game against Phoenix. Young had an incredible outing prior, scoring a season-high 43 points.
For the Bulls, Coby White was the leading scorer with 16 points, followed closely by Zach LaVine with 15. Nikola Vucevic made notable contributions as well, scoring 14 points and pulling down 16 rebounds.
Key observations from the game reveal that the Hawks were missing several key players, with Young—who averages 23.1 points and leads the league in assists—out due to injury. Other absent players included Jalen Johnson (right shoulder inflammation), De’Andre Hunter (left foot soreness), Larry Nance Jr. (right hand), and rookie Zaccharie Risacher (left adductor irritation). Meanwhile, the Bulls struggled to find their rhythm, marking their fourth loss in five games.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Wallace scored 18 points in the first half, helping Atlanta to establish a 61-47 lead. The 6-foot-3 guard’s early contributions included eight points in a 15-0 scoring run during the second quarter, pushing the Hawks ahead 42-27. Although the Bulls managed to narrow the gap to four points late in the half, the Hawks responded with 13 consecutive points, ending the half with a significant 59-42 advantage after Okongwu’s impressive alley-oop dunk.
In the third quarter, the Bulls attempted a comeback with a 12-2 run, bringing the score to 72-67 with five minutes left in the period. However, the Hawks held onto their eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter and maintained their control throughout the remainder of the game.
Statistically, both teams had challenges with their 3-point shooting, as the Hawks made only 13 of 43 attempts, while the Bulls struggled even further, converting just 6 of 27.
Looking ahead, the Hawks are set to face the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, while the Bulls will host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
