Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) reacts with guard Trae Young (11) after making a three-point basket for his first points in the NBA against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory attribution: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher will look to get more involved offensively when the Atlanta Hawks face the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Friday night in the NBA.
Risacher made his NBA debut on Wednesday, coming off the bench and delivering seven points on 2 of 8 shooting in Atlanta’s 120-116 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He also managed a rebound in his 19 minutes of play.
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“I wasn’t as efficient as I’m used to, so that was a little disappointing for me,” Risacher said. “But it’s part of the game.”
READ: Top pick Zaccharie Risacher hits first NBA shot and vows to get better
Even though the 19-year-old didn’t make the stat sheet, Hawks coach Quin Snyder felt the performance against Brooklyn was a good first step for Risacher.
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“I thought he did a really good job,” Snyder said. “The emphasis is on not shooting every night. How do you impact the game in other ways, whether it’s a pass or a cut on defense?”
Trae Young led Atlanta with 30 points and 12 assists against the Nets, but it was reserve Onyeka Okongwu who outscored the Hawks. Okongwu scored a career-high 28 points and made 11 of 12 field shots.
“I was fortunate enough to spend the summer improving (physically), but I felt really good out there and I’m just glad we got the win,” Okongwu said.
READ: Zaccharie Risacher was selected by the Hawks with the top pick in the NBA Draft
Charlotte guard LaMelo Ball also tried to get back on track this offseason after an ankle injury cut short his 2023-24 season. Although Ball hasn’t played in the regular season since Jan. 26, he flirted with a triple-double on Wednesday, finishing with 34 points, eight points and 11 assists in a 110-105 win over the Houston Rockets.
“He’s like the engine for us,” first-year Hornets coach Charles Lee said of Ball. “If we have a healthy LaMelo Ball, we’re going to do a lot of really good things because I know he’s going to continue to grow and he helps everyone around him continue to get better.”
With Ball back in the lineup, Lee is looking forward to seeing how far Charlotte can go this season. The Hornets went 21-61 in the 2023-24 season and finished 13th in the 15-team Eastern Conference.
Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) waits to attempt his free throws during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
“I told (Ball) what I think will help us get the win, and I think you saw (Wednesday) him do that with some of his defensive efforts, some of his varied efforts and the offensive play after that with the passport and driving,” said Lee. “So, I’m completely happy for him.”
However, the injury bug has already found a way to hit Charlotte again, as left hip pain forced second-year guard Brandon Miller to leave the clash with Houston after just 11 minutes of play.
Miller, the second overall pick in the 2023 draft, is listed as day-to-day and his playing status for Friday is not yet officially known.
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Atlanta was one of the few teams the Hornets had consistent success against last season, with Charlotte defeating the Hawks three times in four games. –Field level media