Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Can’t Overcome Shooting Woes in 120-97 Blowout Loss to Golden State
When the Atlanta Hawks have lost basketball games this year, you can usualy point to a single quarter as the reason why. They were outscored 38-17 in the third quarter in the loss to the Blazers on Sunday, they scored only 15 points in the 4th quarter in a loss to Chicago and tonight vs the No. 1 team in the Western Conference, Atlanta was outscored 41-22 in the first quarter. Golden State only outscored Atlanta 79-75 the rest of the way, but the damage was done already. Atlanta’s offense was non-existent the whole night and Golden State cruised to a 120-97 victory over the Hawks.
For most of the game, the Hawks defense was surprisingly not the problem. Golden State was red hot from three in the first quarter, but ended the game shooting 47% from the field and 35% from three. There have been plenty of games where the Hawks let their opponents have a big night shooting, but this was not one of those nights.
Atlanta’s offense could not find its rhythm all night long. The Hawks shot 33% from the field and 26% from three and it is hard to point to any good performances from anyone tonight.
Trae Young still is having trouble shooting the ball, going 4-12 from the field and 1-6 from three. He and Jalen Johnson both had double-doubles and were not the biggest problems. One of Atlanta’s biggest concerns this year was shooting and spacing and they were going to need both Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter to help with that. Bogdanovic had a really tough night, shooting 2-14 from the field and 1-7 from three. Hunter, who has been really good this season, shot 3-12 and 0-6 from three. Atlanta had been 4-0 with Hunter available and he had scored 22 points in three of his four games this year, but tonight was tough. Atlanta could not find offense from anywhere, whether it was the starters or the bench and it cost them tonight vs one of the NBA’s elite teams. The Hawks had 21 offensive rebounds tonight compared to Golden State’s seven and they still could not make it count.
Golden State was elite on defense tonight and did just enough on offense after an explosive first quarter. They shot 47% from the floor and 35% from three in the game and Andrew Wiggins led the way with 27 points. Steph Curry had 23 points on 4-6 shooting from three.
Up next for the Hawks is a big game in Chicago in the NBA Cup. The Hawks are the last undefeated team in East Group C and they would reach 3-0 with a win. This loss drops them to 7-9 and the game vs the Bulls is the final one in their current road trip.
Let’s recap tonight’s game.
The Hawks continued with their same starting lineup. Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela.
Golden State’s starters were Steph Curry, Lindy Waters III, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
The first five minutes of the game were perfectly fine for the Hawks. They trailed 16-15, but they were 3-6 from three and keeping up with the Warriors.
The rest of the first half was ugly.
Golden State would proceed to go on a 13-2 run to take a 29-17 lead and that was just forshadowing what was to come for the Hawks. They could not buy a basket and Golden State was hitting open threes. The Warriors are arguably the deepest team in the NBA and their bench was far superior to Atlanta’s in the first half. Golden State stretched their lead to 41-22 after the first quarter and the Hawks were already in deep trouble after just one quarter of play.
The defense was bad in the first quarter, but the offense was the main issue. The Hawks shot 35% from the field and 29% from three. Golden State on the other hand was 60% from the field and 46% from three. The bench for the Warriors outscored the Hawks bench 19-3. It was a really rough first quarter for Bogdan Bogdanovic, Onyeka Okongwu, De’Andre Hunter, and Kobe Bufkin.
The Hawks defense in the second quarter was much better and there were times where it looked like Atlanta might close the lead up. They cut it to 16 with 5:59 left in the half, but Golden State proceeded to close the half on a 12-3 run. The defense held Golden State to 2-13 shooting from three in the second quarter, but the offense was dreadful. Atlanta shot 28% from the field and 22% from three in the second quarter and despite having some stretches to tighten the lead, Golden State led 67-42 at the half.
Atlanta shot 30% from the field in the first half and 26% from three. The lone bright spot was Jalen Johnson, who had 10 points and six rebounds.
Golden State shot 48% from the field, but just 31% from three. The Warriors bench outscored the Hawks 28-10 in the first half. Bogdan Bogdanovic particlualry had a poor shooting half, starting 1-7 from the field.
The shooting woes for Trae Young also continued. Young has struggled shooting the ball so far this year and he was 1-6 in the first half, scoring only three points.
The third quarter was the best one of the night for the Hawks. They outscored the Warriors 33-23 and looked like they might make a game out of it. With 2:38 to go in the quarter, the Hawks had cut the lead to 12 and had the momentum. The problem was that any time the Hawks appeared to have momentum, the Warriors halted it. Golden State led 90-75 going to the fourth. Atlanta held Golden State to 29% from three in the third quarter and Young led the offense (which was still struggling) with seven points and five assists.
Atlanta never made a serious run in the fourth quarter. The defense kept them in it for a period of time, but the offense was dreadful still. Atlanta lost the game by 23 points and now heads to Chicago 7-9.
Atlanta, GA
Falcons release QB Kirk Cousins with post-June 1 designation
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have released veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins with a post-June 1 designation.
It was an anticipated move after general manager Ian Cunningham said during an appearance on 92.9 The Game while at the NFL Combine that Atlanta would part ways with the quarterback at the start of the league year “out of respect” for Cousins.
Cousins signed a four-year deal with Atlanta in March 2024 after six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was named to the Pro Bowl three times. Cousins began the 2023 season playing at a very high level, but an Achilles injury ended his year early. He was brought to Atlanta to provide stability to the quarterback position.
The 2024 season started off well for Cousins and the Falcons. He led the team to a signature comeback win in Philadelphia on “Monday Night Football” in Week 2. Then, on the night Matt Ryan was inducted into the Falcons Ring of Honor, Cousins threw for 509 yards in the team’s Week 5 overtime win vs. the Buccaneers and broke Ryan’s previous franchise record for most passing yards in a single game. However, following a five-game stretch late in the year during which he threw nine interceptions and only one touchdown pass, Cousins was benched in favor of rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
In 2024, Cousins completed 66.9% of his passes thrown for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
His future in Atlanta was a topic of discussion during the 2025 offseason. Early on, Falcons leadership expressed that the organization was comfortable moving forward with Cousins as Penix’s backup, and that is how he began the season. Cousins ultimately started the final seven games for Atlanta, though, after Penix sustained a season-ending knee injury. He led the team on a four-game win streak to end the season.
Cousins completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions through eight games started and 10 games played in 2025.
Atlanta, GA
Metro Atlanta gas prices surge ahead of spring break, leaving drivers stunned
Drivers across metro Atlanta are seeing higher prices at the pump, and as spring break approaches, many families say the spike is hitting their budgets hard. While some people are reconsidering travel plans, others said they are still planning to get out of town.
At a RaceTrac gas station near Clairmont Road and Dresden Drive in Chamblee, drivers told us they noticed the increase almost immediately.
Just last week, many drivers said they were paying around $2.80 a gallon. Now, prices at some stations are climbing well over $3 a gallon.
At this RaceTrac, regular gas was listed at $3.59 a gallon while diesel was even higher at $5.19. Last week, those prices were $3.29 for regular-and $4.69 for diesel.
Some drivers said the increase is already creating financial stress.
“Not that many people can afford that price.”
Morgan Howard explained.
The metro Atlanta mom of two who commutes to work said she closely tracks fuel prices because of how much she drives.
“I pay attention to gas because I work over here but I live in Villa Rica or like Douglasville and the prices even went over there up. Ridiculous. It is sad.”
According to the AAA, the average price for gas in Atlanta is now about $3.28 a gallon, which is up roughly 44 cents from last week. Meanwhile, analysts with GasBuddy project prices could increase another 20 to 50 cents in the coming week.
Howard said her biggest concern isn’t just her own budget.
“I don’t think about myself. I think about others that are struggling. I think about others that are making minimum wage and can’t not afford.”
Higher gas prices can ripple through nearly every part of daily life from commuting to grocery costs.
Truck driver Logan Gabbard said the increase has already forced him to cancel travel plans he had for later this month.
“I was going to make plans at the end of March but since gas prices have went up as much as they have I can’t go through with those plans now just because usually it would take me 50 to 70 dollars to go where I usually go but now it is going to cost me so much that I am not going to be able to go.”
Another group feeling the impact is ride-share drivers who say rising fuel costs are forcing them to work longer hours.
“Because I was putting the mid range at $3.02 and now is almost at $4 and this is making us work more. Yes this is impacting us, now we need to work more and more hour’s in order to get better gains to be able to afford bills and payments, like rent, services and food is getting more expensive as well, for the people who work doing rideshares like Uber, Lyft and Taxi,” Ian Marin said.
“We have a taxi line near this gas station and a lot of drivers made the decision to retire from doing this profession because gains are not enough, people have fear to be out in the streets, but the price for food, bills, and rent keep going up making this situation really really complicated, “Marin explained.
Despite the higher prices, not everyone is putting the brakes on travel.
With the spring break season arriving, some college students said they are still planning to hit the road.
Analysts said part of the price swing is tied to tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which can make global oil markets unstable and push oil prices higher.
International tensions are not the only factor.
AAA said gas prices often increase during busy travel seasons like spring break, when more people are hitting the road.
The drivers we talked to said that means they will be keeping a closer eye on their budgets in the weeks ahead and watching every mile and every dollar a little more closely.
Atlanta, GA
NBA cancels Hawks’ plans to celebrate Atlanta strip club
Magic City Night in Atlanta is off.
The NBA has canceled the Atlanta Hawks’ plans for a celebration of the city’s Magic City adult entertainment club, saying Monday that it was responding to concerns from many across the league.
The event was supposed to happen next Monday during a game against the Orlando Magic.
Atlanta announced the plan last month, calling it a tribute to an “iconic cultural institution” with food — including the club’s lemon pepper wings, a version of which is named for former Hawks guard Lou Williams — along with music and exclusive merchandise.
“While we are very disappointed in the NBA’s decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we fully respect its decision,” the Hawks said Monday. “As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta — with authenticity — in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together.”
Some elements of the plans for the night will remain, the Hawks said, including a halftime performance from rapper T.I. — and there are plans for lemon pepper wings to be sold.
But some plans for merchandise have been scrapped, as has a live recording of a podcast that was to feature Hawks primary owner Jami Gertz, T.I. and Magic City founder Michael Barney.
Plans for the celebration were met with mixed reactions — some for, some against. One NBA player, Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs, spoke out about the idea of promoting a strip club and urged the parties involved to reconsider.
And the league evidently heard the same message from others.
READ MORE: Terry Rozier will not receive salary while on leave from NBA, AP reports
“When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “While we appreciate the team’s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees.
“I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.”
The Hawks have ties to the club. Gertz was a producer for a five-part docuseries that explored the club’s history, its place in Black and hip-hop culture and what it means to the city.
“This collaboration and theme night is very meaningful to me after all the work that we did to put together ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’” Gertz, who is also a filmmaker and actor, said when the promotion was announced. “The iconic Atlanta institution has made such an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture.”
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