Hawks Begin Preseason Action in Houston

Trae Young finished his first preseason game with nine points and eight assists in the Hawks loss against the Rockets (Image via Kevin Jairaj)
By: Lucas Kochevar

The Hawks started their season, kind of, in Houston on Monday night as they lost to the Rockets 122-113. The Hawks experimented with some unique lineups in the first half, but the reserves weren’t able to keep it close as the Rockets pulled away in the second half. 

The Hawks opened the game with a starting lineup that featured Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis. The Hawks starting lineup has been a point of conversation ever since the Hawks acquired Porzingis as many were unsure whether he would start over Onyeka Okongwu. 

Head coach Quin Snyder and the Hawks have maintained the point that they can employ the lineup in many different configurations, which makes whoever starts the game obsolete. Maintaining the “optionality” that General Manager Onsi Saleh has preached seems to be the theme of the Hawks starting lineup early on.

The optionality was on display early as the Hawks deployed a lineup that featured Young, Luke Kennard, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Okongwu and Porzingis. Defense was optional but they showed some flashes on offense as they finished the first quarter down 24-23. The Hawks’ regulars would play through the second quarter too as they were up 68-66 at halftime. The Hawks reserves would get most of the run in the second half as Alexander-Walker led the Hawks in scoring with 13 points off the bench.

The Hawks will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to the Memphis Grizzlies at 8:00 p.m. EST.