Trail Blazers Vs Hawks: Okongwu, Kuminga Power Atlanta to 135-101 Win
On March 1, 2026, the Atlanta Hawks routed the Portland Trail Blazers 135-101 in Atlanta in a game that reshaped the immediate outlook for both teams and underscored the shift in the matchup dynamics in trail blazers vs hawks play. The Hawks built a decisive advantage early and never allowed Portland to get closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
Trail Blazers Vs Hawks: First-Quarter Surge for Atlanta
Atlanta opened the game with a season-high 44 points in the first quarter, shooting 65 percent in the period and converting 13 of 15 free throws. The Hawks led 44-25 after one and the lead never fell below 15 the remainder of the night. That early dominance set the tone for a 135-101 final score.
Onyeka Okongwu's 25 Points and CJ McCollum
Center Onyeka Okongwu finished with 25 points, pacing the Hawks’ offense, while CJ McCollum added 19 points. Jrue Holiday scored 23 points for Portland in defeat. The box score also showed Donovan Clingan posted 15 points, 15 rebounds and a team-high five assists for the Trail Blazers.
Jonathan Kuminga's Early Impact Since Golden State Trade
Jonathan Kuminga, playing his third game for Atlanta since being traded by Golden State, scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench. He has averaged 21. 3 points and 7. 7 rebounds with Atlanta after barely playing with the Warriors, and late in the fourth quarter he capped an impressive night with a windmill breakaway dunk that ignited the home crowd.
Team Shooting, Rebounds and Ball Movement
The Hawks shot 55 percent from the field for the game, outrebounded Portland 54-38 and recorded 36 assists compared with 23 for the Trail Blazers. Those margins helped Atlanta convert its early advantage into a rout and maintain control for all four quarters.
Portland Absences, Deni Avdija's Back Injury and Road Trip
Portland was without leading scorer and first-time All-Star Deni Avdija, who missed his fourth straight game to manage a lower back injury. Pre-game listings had Portland at 29-32 and Atlanta at 30-31; the Hawks improved to 31-31 with the victory, reaching. 500 for the first time since Dec. 23. The Trail Blazers are scheduled to visit Memphis on Wednesday.
Broadcast Details, Injury Lists and Game Timing
The matchup had been listed for a 3 p. m. Pacific start on Sunday, March 1, 2026, with antenna and cable options on the Rip City Television Network and streaming options on BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington and League Pass elsewhere. The Trail Blazers entered the game with an extensive injury list: Sidy Cissoko and Yang Hansen were listed as questionable; Shaedon Sharpe, Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija, Caleb Love and Robert Williams III were listed as out. The Hawks had Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker listed as questionable and RayJ Dennis and Asa Newell listed as doubtful.
What makes this notable is how the Hawks translated a dominant first quarter into a complete team performance: efficient shooting, an edge on the boards and superior ball movement combined to sustain an advantage across 48 minutes. Atlanta has now won four straight games by an average margin of 26. 5 points and moved into ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
