Off target is mod Al Horford
After warming up against the Kings with 21 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, Mr. Okongwu put it back 24 hours later in Utah. Better, against Lauri Markkanen, the Nigerian interior offers two career highs with 32 points and 8 3-pointers! In a style inevitably reminiscent of Al Horford, the former Hawks legend, Okongwu positioned himself in the corners or faced the circle to punish the Jazz.
“I just take what the defense gives me. I felt confident today. I just want to stay aggressive.” fits Kristaps Porzingis’ usual one-linerwho added 11 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals. Apparently drawing from distance, Okongwu forced Jusuf Nurkic and Lauri Markkanen to go wide, then punished them near the circle. We’ve even seen him dunk from the 3-point line like Paolo Banchero or Pascal Siakam might have done.
Listening to Quin Snyder, Atlanta’s staff has been preparing him like this for months. “I can’t talk about Jaylen (Johnson) and Onyeka” replies the Hawks coach. “I still remember, last year at Indiana, Coach Lang worked with Onjek… We showed him the areas where he would have the 3-point shot. I still remember him practicing, practicing, practicing, repeating… And tonight he made important baskets. But above all: we needed him, and he responded.”
2025-11-14 07:30:00
