Atlanta Hawks 113, Oklahoma City Thunder 110 — The Atlanta Hawks held off the Oklahoma City Thunder in a gripping early-season matchup, closing out a three-point win at home behind a composed fourth quarter and a defensive stop in the final seconds.

Trae Young led the way for Atlanta with 31 points and 11 assists, while Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander answered with 34 points in a losing effort. The result gives the Hawks a signature win over one of the Western Conference's elite teams and hands the Thunder a narrow road defeat.

Match Overview

• Final score: Atlanta Hawks 113, Oklahoma City Thunder 110
• Competition: National Basketball Association
• Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta
• Date: October 13, 2026
• Margin: Hawks by 3

How the Game Unfolded

Atlanta opened with intent, pushing the pace early and getting Young into pick-and-roll actions that forced Oklahoma City's big men into uncomfortable decisions. The Hawks built a modest cushion through the first half, leading 58-55 at the break on the strength of a 9-for-22 shooting night from beyond the arc.

The Thunder responded after halftime with their best stretch of the game. Gilgeous-Alexander attacked the rim relentlessly in the third, Chet Holmgren stretched the floor with pick-and-pop threes, and Oklahoma City ripped off a 31-point quarter to briefly take control. At one point the Thunder led by seven, and it looked as though their defensive length had finally smothered Atlanta's half-court offense.

Key Moments

The turning point arrived with roughly six minutes left. Trailing 98-93, the Hawks went on a 12-2 run sparked by back-to-back corner threes and a transition dunk from Jalen Johnson. Atlanta's bench — which had been steady all night — kept the energy high during that stretch and forced two Oklahoma City turnovers in quick succession.

In the final minute, with the Hawks up 111-110, Young drew a double team and found a cutting teammate for an easy finish at the rim to make it a three-point game. Oklahoma City had one last look to tie, but a contested three from the wing rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.

Tactical Story

Atlanta's game plan revolved around speed and spacing. The Hawks repeatedly used high screens to drag Holmgren away from the paint, then attacked the resulting gaps. That approach produced 28 assists on 42 made field goals and helped Atlanta shoot 46.2 percent from the field for the night.

Oklahoma City, meanwhile, leaned on its half-court defense and the individual brilliance of its star guard. The Thunder outscored Atlanta 44-38 in the paint and won the rebounding battle, but their 14 turnovers — several of them live-ball giveaways in the fourth quarter — proved costly. Atlanta converted those mistakes into 19 points.

Standout Players

• Trae Young (Hawks): 31 points, 11 assists, 3 rebounds — the engine of everything Atlanta did offensively, and the decision-maker on the game's biggest possession.
• Jalen Johnson (Hawks): 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals — a two-way presence who punished mismatches inside and out.
• Onyeka Okongwu (Hawks): 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks — critical rim protection and a handful of second-chance points.
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): 34 points, 6 assists — efficient and relentless, repeatedly keeping Oklahoma City within striking distance.
• Chet Holmgren (Thunder): 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks — a problem on both ends before foul trouble limited his fourth-quarter minutes.
• Jalen Williams (Thunder): 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists — the Thunder's most reliable secondary creator.

What the Result Means

For the Hawks, this is the kind of win that builds belief. Beating a contender from the Western Conference on a night when the offense wasn't perfect shows a level of resilience that Atlanta has been searching for. It also reinforces the value of a deeper rotation, with the bench contributing 32 points.

For Oklahoma City, the loss is a narrow one against an Eastern Conference opponent and does little damage to the broader picture, but it does highlight a familiar theme: in tight road games, the Thunder's supporting cast needs to convert when opposing defenses load up on Gilgeous-Alexander. Their 24-point fourth quarter — their lowest of the game — is the number the coachin