Key Takeaways
- The Miracle: Jonathan Kuminga drained a 75-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter, turning a defensive rebound into the highlight of the season.
- The Streak: Atlanta secured their 11th consecutive victory, the longest active winning streak in the NBA.
- Dallas Disaster: The Mavericks suffered their 10th straight home loss, despite a 24-point effort from Daniel Gafford.
DALLAS, TX — Jonathan Kuminga didn’t have time to look for an open man. With the third-quarter clock bleeding out, the Atlanta forward snagged a Mavericks miss, took one step from his own foul line, and launched a one-handed missile. The ball traveled 75 feet through the Texas air before snapping the net, silencing the American Airlines Center and punctuating the Hawks’ 135-120 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
The Shot That Broke Dallas
The Hawks entered the night as the hottest team in basketball, but Kuminga’s heave transformed a professional road win into a viral spectacle. Atlanta led by double digits for nearly the entire second half, fueled by a balanced attack that saw CJ McCollum pour in 24 points and Nickeil Alexander-Walker chip in 22.
While the Mavericks attempted to claw back behind Daniel Gafford’s 24 points off the bench, they had no answer for Atlanta’s efficiency. The Hawks shot over 50% from the floor, moving the ball with a precision that Dallas simply couldn’t match. Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg flashed potential with 17 points, but his six turnovers proved costly against an Atlanta defense that stayed aggressive for 48 minutes.
Game Box Score Summary
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | 37 | 30 | 38 | 30 | 135 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 30 | 26 | 32 | 32 | 120 |
What They Said
“I honestly thought I was throwing a touchdown pass to Jock [Landale]. I saw him streaking down the court, but the ball just kept rising. Once it cleared the scoreboard, I knew it had a chance. That’s just the kind of groove we’re in right now.”
— Jonathan Kuminga on his 75-foot buzzer-beater
“Ten straight at home is unacceptable. We’re losing the energy battle in our own building. Give Atlanta credit—they play like a team that expects to win every night, and right now, we’re playing like a team waiting for something bad to happen.”
— Jason Kidd, Mavericks Head Coach
Playoff Implications: The Hawks are Real
Atlanta’s 11th straight win isn’t just a mid-season fluke. The Hawks (38-31) now sit just a half-game behind the Orlando Magic for the coveted No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Avoiding the Play-In Tournament was a distant dream in January, but the current rotation—led by Jalen Johnson’s near triple-double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists)—looks like a legitimate threat to the East’s elite.
For Dallas, the freefall continues. Dropping to 23-47, the Mavericks are officially shifting focus toward the lottery. With a 10-game skid at the American Airlines Center, the pressure on the front office to build around Flagg this offseason is reaching a fever pitch.
