How the game was lost: In a game of big shots, the Hornets had the last one, when Lance Stephenson banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the second overtime to give Charlotte its first home win against the Hawks since April 13, 2011. Jeff Teague (22) topped 20 points for the third time in four games to bounce back from a five-point game Wednesday in San Antonio. But the Hawks had no answer for Al Jefferson, who scored 34 points, or Kemba Walker who had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Turning point: Al Horford pump faked, got Kemba Walker to leave his feet, then drove the lane and slammed in a two-handed dunk to put the Hawks up 97-94 with 54 seconds to play in regulation. But on the next trip down the floor, with the Hawks leading by one, Horford's traveling violation opened the door for a game-tying free throw from Jefferson to send the game to overtime.

Number: Nine. Number of offensive fouls the Hawks were charged with, officially, including one by Kyle Korver when the Hawks had a chance for a game-winning shot with 2.5 seconds left in the second overtime. They accounted for nine of the Hawks' 19 turnovers.

Next: The Hawks return to Atlanta for their second home game of the young season against the Knicks. The Hawks won their home-opener against the Pacers 102-92.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Hawks television analyst Dominique Wilkins (left), along with play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun, will call all three exhibition games. (David Zalubowski/AP 2021)

Credit: AP

Featured

Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

Credit: NYT