Atlanta builds a 19-point halftime advantage and finishes its exhibition schedule with a convincing road victory, while Dallas closes preseason with a loss.
The Atlanta Hawks closed their preseason schedule with a convincing 135-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, October 16, at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Atlanta combined perimeter shooting, rebounding, and offensive balance to create separation after a competitive opening quarter, finishing its preseason with a 4-1 record. Dallas ended its exhibition schedule at 1-3.
Game Highlights
The final score reflected Atlanta’s ability to create a substantial cushion before halftime and maintain it through the second half. The Hawks won the opening quarter 39-34, then outscored Dallas 34-20 in the second period. That 14-point advantage in the quarter turned a five-point lead into a 73-54 halftime margin.
Atlanta’s second-quarter performance proved especially important. The Hawks converted opportunities from beyond the three-point line while Dallas struggled to maintain the same offensive rhythm. Atlanta entered the break with a 19-point advantage, giving the Mavericks a significant challenge for the remainder of the game.
Atlanta’s Perimeter Shooting Creates Separation
The Hawks finished the game shooting 40-for-89 from the field, a 45 percent conversion rate. Their three-point shooting was particularly productive, with Atlanta making 21 of 51 attempts from long range. That volume and accuracy helped the visitors generate points even as Dallas continued to find scoring opportunities of its own.
Atlanta also made 34 of 45 free throws, giving the Hawks another source of offense. The frequent trips to the line added to their scoring total and helped sustain the advantage as the game progressed.
Alexander-Walker’s 25 points led the Atlanta attack. His outside shooting was a notable part of his performance, as he made six of his 10 three-point attempts. His contribution helped Atlanta take advantage of the space available around the perimeter.
Jalen Johnson also made a substantial impact. He finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds, giving Atlanta a strong presence on the glass and another reliable scoring option. His rebounding production was especially valuable in a game in which the Hawks finished with a clear advantage in total rebounds.
Atlanta’s offensive output was not limited to one player. The Hawks recorded 36 assists, reflecting a productive passing performance across the team. Their ability to distribute the ball and find scoring opportunities helped them reach 135 points without relying exclusively on individual shot creation.
Dallas Receives a Strong Performance from Flagg
Flagg led the Mavericks with 26 points and 12 rebounds. He finished 8-for-20 from the field and made eight of nine free throws. His scoring and rebounding gave Dallas a productive individual performance to build around, even as the team fell behind.
Kyrie Irving also contributed as Dallas worked to generate offense. He was credited with five assists and no turnovers, and made five three-pointers, providing another source of perimeter scoring for the Mavericks.
Dallas finished 40-for-93 from the field, shooting 43 percent, and made 13 of 33 three-point attempts. The Mavericks were able to produce points, but their overall shooting output did not match Atlanta’s combination of outside accuracy and free-throw volume.
The Mavericks did have success closer to the basket. Dallas scored 50 points in the paint, compared with 38 for Atlanta. That advantage showed that Dallas could create offense inside, but it did not erase the Hawks’ edge in other areas.
Rebounding and Ball Movement Help Atlanta Maintain Control
One of the clearest statistical differences came on the boards. Atlanta collected 55 rebounds, while Dallas finished with 42. The 13-rebound margin gave the Hawks an important team advantage and complemented their scoring from the perimeter.
Atlanta also recorded 36 assists against Dallas’ 30. The Hawks committed 13 turnovers, compared with 15 for the Mavericks. Dallas scored 16 points off turnovers, three more than Atlanta’s 13, but the advantage was not enough to close the overall scoring gap.
The Hawks added 19 fast-break points, while Dallas recorded six. That difference contributed to Atlanta’s offensive total and highlighted another area in which the visitors produced more. Dallas, meanwhile, finished with five blocks and seven steals, compared with Atlanta’s six blocks and nine steals.
Atlanta won the third quarter 29-24, extending its halftime lead rather than allowing Dallas to make a substantial recovery. Both teams scored 33 points in the fourth, leaving the final margin unchanged during the closing period. The Hawks’ largest lead reached 29 points, underscoring the extent of their advantage during the contest.
The 135-111 result gave Atlanta a winning preseason record of 4-1 as the team turned its attention toward the regular season. The performance offered encouraging results in outside shooting, ball movement, and rebounding, although preseason games alone cannot establish how those strengths will translate once regular-season competition begins.
Dallas finished its preseason at 1-3. Flagg’s 26-point, 12-rebound performance stood out individually, while Irving also contributed to the offense. The team nevertheless had work to do after allowing Atlanta to build a 19-point halftime lead and finish with 135 points.
Ultimately, Atlanta won through a combination of scoring depth and advantages across several statistical categories. Alexander-Walker led the way with 25 points, Johnson supplied 20 points and 14 rebounds, and the Hawks’ perimeter shooting helped separate the teams before halftime. Flagg produced an impressive individual line for Dallas, but the Mavericks could not overcome Atlanta’s overall performance.
The preseason finale ended with a clear result: Atlanta finished its exhibition schedule with a victory, while Dallas closed its preparation period with a loss. The Hawks can carry the performance into their regular-season preparations, and the Mavericks will look to build on the individual positives while addressing the areas exposed in the defeat.
