Four-time Atlanta all-star Trae Young was on the bench in street clothes with a right quad contusion when an unconfirmed report surfaced during the fourth quarter that he had been traded to Washington. Young left the area for a few minutes, returned to the bench and stayed there until seconds remained.
The win gives the Hawks a sweep of the two-game season series. Atlanta had won five of its last six meetings against New Orleans.
With Onyeka Okongwu out with an illness and Kristaps Porzingis on restricted minutes, Atlanta started reserve Mouhamed Gueye at center. Porzingis still wound up with 13 points, while Gueye contributed 10 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, finishing the game at plus-27.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 17 points to surpass 4,000 for his career and added six assists, putting him over 1,000. Jalen Johnson had 19 points and eight rebounds.
The Pelicans got 22 points and eight rebounds from Zion Williamson, 21 points from Jordan Poole and 20 points from Bryce McGowens. New Orleans has dropped nine in a row, its second nine-game losing streak of the season.
Atlanta made six 3-pointers in the first quarter, three of them from Risacher, and led 37-26 after one quarter. Williamson, who did not score in the first quarter, put up 13 in the second quarter, but Atlanta held a 65-53 halftime lead.
The Hawks were able to avoid the third-quarter slump that has hurt them this season and outscored the Pelicans 24-13 to take a 89-69 lead into the final quarter.
The Pelicans were very short-handed. They did not have 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 one night after scoring a career-high 42 points against the L.A. Lakers.
