The Rockets beat the Hawks 133-115

The Atlanta Hawks hosted the Houston Rockets in their final preseason matchup before opening the regular season against the Toronto Raptors. After resting their starters in Monday’s win over Miami, the Hawks brought back most of their rotation, except Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels. The Rockets, meanwhile, opted to rest their main lineup. Both sides started slowly, with Houston gaining a slight edge early. 

Nickeil Alexander-Walker opened the scoring for Atlanta with a three-pointer, followed by another from Trae Young. Turnovers hurt the Hawks early in the first quarter, but they settled in as the period progressed. Rookie Zaccharie Risacher began finding his rhythm, attacking the paint with confidence, while Asa Newell provided energy off the bench, showcasing his athleticism with an alley-oop dunk assisted by Alexander-Walker. The Hawks’ offense improved as their young players found their footing.