NBA: Hawks get season-high 25 from Zaccharie Risacher to beat Pelicans

Zaccharie Risacher knocked down seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 25 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 117-100 win over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, ending their two-game losing streak.

Four-time Atlanta All-Star Trae Young remained on the bench in street clothes due to a right quad contusion. During the fourth quarter, unconfirmed reports surfaced that Young had been traded to Washington. He briefly left the area but returned to the bench, remaining there until the final seconds of the game.

The win gives the Hawks a sweep of the two-game season series against New Orleans. Atlanta has now won five of its last six meetings with the Pelicans.

With Onyeka Okongwu sidelined by illness and Kristaps Porzingis on restricted minutes, Atlanta started reserve Mouhamed Gueye at center. Porzingis still managed 13 points, while Gueye contributed 10 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, finishing the game at a plus-27 rating.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 17 points to surpass 4,000 for his career and added six assists, reaching over 1,000 career assists. Jalen Johnson added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Hawks.

For New Orleans, Zion Williamson tallied 22 points and eight rebounds, Jordan Poole added 21 points, and Bryce McGowens scored 20 points. The Pelicans have now dropped nine straight games, marking their second nine-game losing streak of the season.

Atlanta made six 3-pointers in the first quarter, including three from Risacher, and led 37-26 after the opening period. Williamson, scoreless in the first quarter, put up 13 points in the second, but the Hawks maintained a 65-53 halftime lead.

The Hawks avoided the third-quarter slump that has affected them this season, outscoring the Pelicans 24-13 to take an 89-69 lead into the final period.

The Pelicans were shorthanded, missing Jose Alvarado (left oblique soreness), Saddiq Bey (right hip flexor strain), Herb Jones (right ankle soreness), and Trey Murphy III, who sat out with lower back spasms after scoring a career-high 42 points against the Los Angeles Lakers the previous night.

—Field Level Media/Reuters