Hawks Beat Wizards 139-132 as Trae Young Scores 23 in His Return to Atlanta

By The Arena Staff

ATLANTA, Nov. 6, 2026 — Trae Young came back to State Farm Arena healthy, in a Wizards jersey, and with the ball in his hands. The Hawks still took the night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 28 points and Atlanta held off Washington 139-132 in Emirates NBA Cup play Friday, sweeping a home-and-home series against Young's new team, the Associated Press reported. Young finished with 23 points and 10 assists on 7-of-16 shooting — and a season-high eight turnovers — in his first game in Atlanta as a visitor after seven-plus seasons as a Hawk. Luguentz Dort added 25 points, including a shot-clock-beating corner jumper late in the fourth. Onyeka Okongwu scored 22, and Aaron Wiggins had 19 off the bench. Dyson Daniels, who guarded Young for stretches, finished with 13 points and 12 assists.

Young was traded to Washington in January for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert. He is Atlanta's all-time leader in assists and 3-pointers. He returned to the building earlier this year after the deal but could not play because of a knee injury; Friday was the first time he faced the Hawks from the floor. After he was introduced last for the Wizards, he settled himself in the corner, then jogged over to hug coach Quin Snyder before tipoff. "I don't even know how to describe the feeling," Young said afterward, per the AP. "I mean, it was different. It was cool for me." He added that he did not expect every trip back to feel the same: "I don't think it'll feel like this every time, but definitely tonight."

Atlanta seized control with a 38-point second quarter after trailing by four and pushed the pace all night. The Hawks shot 53 percent from the field and 42 percent from three, finishing with a season-high 139 points — the most Washington has allowed this season, CBS Sports reported. Kyshawn George led the Wizards with 33. Tre Johnson scored 23. Anthony Davis sat with a sprained right ankle, and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa had 11 points on 3-of-13 shooting. Hawks forward Jalen Johnson missed a third straight game with a left ankle sprain.

It was Atlanta's third straight win. Washington visits Oklahoma City on Saturday; the Hawks host Brooklyn the same night.

Sources: Associated Press, Associated Press (Young feature) and CBS Sports.