Atlanta overwhelms Charlotte in its home opener
The Atlanta Hawks recorded the largest winning margin in franchise history with a 128–81 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on Friday, October 23. The result came on October 24 in Philippine time.
Jalen Johnson finished with 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Aaron Wiggins also scored 19, making seven of nine shots off the bench, while all five Atlanta starters reached double figures.
The 47-point margin exceeded the Hawks’ previous record of 46, set in a 126–80 win against Sacramento in November 2017. Atlanta’s pressure helped create the separation: Charlotte committed 14 turnovers in the first half and trailed by 25 at the break.
Naz Reid led the Hornets with 17 points. Their home opener never developed into a sustained challenge after Atlanta established control, leaving the home side with work to do on protecting the ball and limiting transition opportunities.
Atlanta’s scoring came from across the rotation rather than one unusually large individual total. Johnson’s passing and rebounding accompanied his scoring, and Wiggins delivered an efficient contribution from the bench.
The final margin gives the result its place in the Hawks’ record book. For Charlotte, the first-half turnovers provide a more immediate explanation for how a competitive matchup became a one-sided night.