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Quin Snyder Says Nickeil Alexander-Walker Is ‘Playing With So Much Confidence’
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- Quin Snyder Says Nickeil Alexander-Walker Is ‘Playing With So Much Confidence’
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made nine 3-pointers Monday night in Indianapolis, matching his career high, and scored a season-high 34 points in the Atlanta Hawks ' 108-104 win over the Indiana Pacers .
Hawks coach Quin Snyder credited CJ McCollum, who finished with 12 assists, for finding Alexander-Walker late in the game.
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"The thing about Nickeil is he's still playing on the defensive end too," Snyder said. "He seems to make plays on both ends of the floor, and he's playing with so much confidence. I thought CJ did a really good job of finding him late. And I like the shots that CJ was getting, too."
"You just have certain nights that the ball won't cooperate," Snyder continued. "But as you said, Nickeil hit big shots for us, it seemed like, the whole game."
Alexander-Walker's 9-of-15 Night
Alexander-Walker finished 12-of-25 from the field and 9-of-15 from 3-point range, and he made his only free throw. He also had four rebounds, four assists, four steals, and four turnovers in 31 minutes.
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He had 19 points by halftime on 7-of-10 shooting, starting with a 3-pointer off a McCollum pass on Atlanta's first possession. The Hawks made 15 3-pointers in the first half, which tied the franchise record for a half, and led 68-56 at the break.
After halftime he went 5-of-15, and all five of those makes came from beyond the arc.
Indiana cut the lead to 93-90 when Quenton Jackson converted a three-point play with 7:36 left in the game. Luguentz Dort hit a 26-footer at 6:29, and Alexander-Walker followed with a pull-up 3 in transition at 6:00 after Dyson Daniels came up with a steal.
His ninth 3-pointer, at 4:34, came after he missed from 26 feet and McCollum got the offensive rebound. It put Atlanta ahead 104-93, and the Hawks did not make another field goal until Onyeka Okongwu scored on a hook off a McCollum pass with 10.2 seconds to play.
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Alexander-Walker told Madison Hock in an on-court interview that the Hawks need to watch the film, learn from their mistakes, and apply it.
"A win you'll take at any cost, especially in this league, so we'll definitely take the win, and we did enough to win," Alexander-Walker said. "I think the mindset is just how can we be better, push ourselves to exceed limits and expectations and reach new heights."
McCollum's 12 Assists on a 4-of-17 Night
McCollum shot 4-of-17, including 2-of-7 from 3-point range, and finished one rebound away from a triple-double with 13 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists.
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Four of those assists went to Alexander-Walker on 3-pointers, including the first and last of his nine, and six came in the first quarter, when Atlanta went ahead 37-29. Daniels assisted on three of Alexander-Walker's 3s and Aaron Wiggins on one.
Jalen Johnson missed the game with a left ankle sprain he suffered Saturday in New Orleans, and rookie point guard Kingston Flemings was serving a one-game suspension.
The Hawks acquired McCollum and Corey Kispert from the Washington Wizards in January in the trade that sent Trae Young to Washington. Kispert scored 14 off the bench Monday and made 4-of-7 3-point attempts. Dort also scored 14.
Alexander-Walker's Start to the Season
Monday's 34 points topped the 31 he scored in the season opener at Orlando , a 132-125 win on Oct. 21.
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The Hawks went 8-of-46 from 3-point range in Saturday's 121-99 loss at New Orleans . Two days later, they made 23 of 51.
Atlanta is 4-4, with its other wins coming against Orlando, Charlotte, and Cleveland. Alexander-Walker and McCollum see their former teammate Young when the Hawks visit Washington at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday. It is the first meeting this season between the Hawks and the Wizards.
