The Hawks are beginning a four-game road swing on Friday. Atlanta will start the trip in Denver with a rematch with the Nuggets. Denver came back from a large second-half deficit (as much as 18 points) to defeat Atlanta 134-133 on December 5. Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said about the loss, “Thi s one hurts. They all hurt, but particularly how this one happened.” Atlanta guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 30 points, while Denver All-Star Nikola Kokic (NBA rebounding leader with 12 per game, and in assists with 11 per game) led all scorers with 40 points. The Nuggets have been tough to defeat at home this season, and Atlanta, 11-10, is just a game over .500 on the road this season.  The Hawks held Pelicans star Zion Williamson (1) to 13 points during the first half. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice On Sunday, January 11, the Hawks will play the Golden State Warriors for the first time this season. The two teams will meet in Atlanta on March 21. Future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Steph Curry (averaging nearly 30 points per game) has always been a big draw in Atlanta, and the Warriors game should be one of the sellouts that take place at State Farm Arena.  The Lakers will be the next opponent on the road trip. On Tuesday, January 13, the Hawks will play Luka Doncic (NBA scoring leader at 33.7 points per game), LeBron James, and the Lakers for the second time this season. Atlanta defeated Los Angeles 122-108 on Saturday, November 8. The road trip will end in the Pacific Northwest against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, January 15.  Trae Young was traded to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. The Hawks will receive CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice Before they left town, the Atlanta Hawks hosted the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, January 7. Atlanta won the game 117-100 without multi-time all-star guard Trae Young. First, the subject of trade rumours, then a trade request, and now a trade to the Washington Wizards. Young could be seen going through his regular warmups before the game. Young was listed as inactive and didn’t play for a consecutive game. The Washington Wizards had been a target trade partner because of several expiring contracts, including guard CJ McCollum’s contract. Despite being in his 13th year in the NBA, McCollum can still play at a high level. He scored 46 points in a 132-113 Wizards victory in D.C. on November 25. Along with McCollum, Wizards guard Corey Kispert was also included in the deal, according to sources.   Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (above) warmed up before the game on Wednesday night. Young did not play. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice Before the game, the DeKalb Path Academy choir sang a beautiful rendition of “We Shall Overcome”. Whether the Hawks will overcome a trade involving one of the franchise’s best and most popular players remains to be seen.  The Hawks began the game against the Pelicans with their strongest first quarter of the week. Atlanta went ahead 23-11 following a three-pointer by second-year forward Zaccharie Risacher. Oft-injured forward Kristaps Porzingis pumped in a pair of three-pointers of his own as well. The first quarter ended with Atlanta ahead 37-26. Atlanta maintained a double-digit advantage, 53-42, midway through the second quarter courtesy of a third three-pointer of the half from Porzingis. They went into the locker room at halftime ahead 65-53. It was a rare first-half lead for Atlanta, which had lost two straight and eight of its last 10 games. Atlanta led by as much as 20 points before allowing the Pelicans to cut their deficit to 12 late in the game. Risacher led the Hawks with 25 points, while Porzingis and Luke Kennard each added 13 points. Hawks leading scorer, Jalen Johnson, scored 19 points. The post TRAE-ded: Atlanta Hawks prepare for four-game road trip, move on without Trae Young appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less