Top pick Zaccharie Risacher aims to up his game when the Atlanta Hawks face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. Risacher’s NBA debut saw him come off the bench to score seven points on 2-of-8 shooting in Atlanta’s 120-116 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He also secured a rebound in his 19 minutes on the court. Despite the modest stats, Hawks coach Quin Snyder was pleased with Risacher’s first showing.
Trae Young shone for Atlanta, delivering 30 points and 12 assists, but it was Onyeka Okongwu’s career-high 28 points on 11-of-12 shooting that sealed the victory. On the other side, Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball returned from an ankle injury, which had kept him out since January, and nearly recorded a triple-double with 34 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists in a 110-105 win over the Houston Rockets.
However, the Hornets are dealing with injuries again. Brandon Miller left the game against Houston with hip soreness after just 11 minutes and is day-to-day. This follows a tough previous season where Charlotte finished 21-61.
Despite their challenges, the Hornets managed to beat the Hawks three times in four games last season. Friday night’s game is set to be a telling matchup for both teams as they navigate early-season hurdles.
