# Hawks Rout Hornets 128-81 in Biggest Blowout in Franchise History

Atlanta forced 27 turnovers and beat Charlotte by a franchise-record 47 points, improving to 2-0 behind 19 points apiece from Jalen Johnson and Aaron Wiggins.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / NBA
Published: 2026-10-23T23:28:00Z
Updated: 2026-10-24T05:05:26Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/hawks-hornets-live-1t5ktr3
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/90e1f898b63a19f8c3fae2d0283de5eb.avif (Overhead view of a basketball court in a professional arena; credit: Kyle Richards / Unsplash)

## Summary
- Atlanta beat Charlotte 128-81, eclipsing the franchise's previous record victory margin of 46 points set in 2017.
- Jalen Johnson and Aaron Wiggins scored 19 points each, while Johnson added eight assists and seven rebounds.
- Charlotte committed 27 turnovers and played without injured Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Grant Williams.
- The Hawks improved to 2-0 and were due to host Houston on the second night of a back-to-back.

## Atlanta turns defense into a record margin

The Atlanta Hawks beat the Charlotte Hornets 128-81 at Spectrum Center on Friday, turning a fast start and relentless defensive pressure into the largest victory margin in franchise history. The 47-point gap surpassed Atlanta's previous record of 46, set in a 126-80 win over Sacramento on Nov. 15, 2017, according to the NBA game report and Reuters. [1](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-cha-0022600094) [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/hot-shooting-hawks-set-franchise-mark-with-47-point-rout-hornets--flm-2026-10-24/)

Atlanta led 33-20 after the first quarter, 68-43 at halftime and 97-62 after three. The Hawks shot 50.5% from the field and finished with 18 three-pointers, while Charlotte committed 27 turnovers. Those possessions repeatedly became transition chances or prevented the Hornets from settling into their half-court offense. [1](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-cha-0022600094) [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/hot-shooting-hawks-set-franchise-mark-with-47-point-rout-hornets--flm-2026-10-24/) [3](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/73181/hawks-defense-shines-defeat-hornets-128-81)

Jalen Johnson and reserve Aaron Wiggins led Atlanta with 19 points apiece. Johnson also had eight assists and seven rebounds, and Wiggins made seven of nine shots. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 14 points, CJ McCollum scored 13 and Dyson Daniels supplied 11 points and nine rebounds as Atlanta spread the scoring across its rotation. [1](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-cha-0022600094) [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/hot-shooting-hawks-set-franchise-mark-with-47-point-rout-hornets--flm-2026-10-24/) [3](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/73181/hawks-defense-shines-defeat-hornets-128-81)

## Charlotte's home opener unravels

Naz Reid led Charlotte with 17 points, while Grayson Allen and Tidjane Salaun scored 11 each. Brandon Miller was held to six points on 2-for-14 shooting. The Hornets never recovered from the first-half deficit and were outscored in every quarter of their home opener. [1](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-cha-0022600094) [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/hot-shooting-hawks-set-franchise-mark-with-47-point-rout-hornets--flm-2026-10-24/)

Charlotte was without Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Grant Williams because of injuries. The absences reduced the Hornets' options, but the scale of the defeat also reflected Atlanta's ball pressure, depth and efficient shooting rather than any single missing player, according to the game accounts. [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/hot-shooting-hawks-set-franchise-mark-with-47-point-rout-hornets--flm-2026-10-24/) [3](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/73181/hawks-defense-shines-defeat-hornets-128-81)

The result moved Atlanta to 2-0 after an opening win in Orlando and dropped Charlotte to 1-1. The Hawks were scheduled to return home to face Houston on Saturday, giving them little recovery time after a night in which the starters were able to sit for much of the fourth quarter. [1](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-cha-0022600094) [3](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/73181/hawks-defense-shines-defeat-hornets-128-81)

## Reporting sources
1. [NBA: Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets game center](https://www.nba.com/game/atl-vs-cha-0022600094) (2026-10-23)
2. [Reuters: Hot-shooting Hawks set franchise mark with 47-point rout of Hornets](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/hot-shooting-hawks-set-franchise-mark-with-47-point-rout-hornets--flm-2026-10-24/) (2026-10-24)
3. [Peachtree Hoops: Hawks' defense shines, defeat Hornets 128-81](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/recaps/73181/hawks-defense-shines-defeat-hornets-128-81) (2026-10-24)