Trae Young Scores 41, Hawks Edge Past The Magic in Mexico City 120-119
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It was not easy, but the Hawks overcame an 11-point deficit in the 4th quarter to get a win in Mexico City over the Orlando Magic.
Now, Atlanta has their fifth win in the last six games, with their only stumble being on Monday night in Oklahoma City. Orlando is a team that has been playing well and has young talent, as well as one of the best defenses in the NBA.
The Hawks came into this game healthy, with Kobe Bufkin, Mouhamed Gueye, and Wesley Matthews out.
Orlando had a big injury question coming into the game, with starting point guard Markelle Fultz questionable at the start of the day, but he was ruled in before the game.
I wrote about the Hawks's struggles in the first quarter earlier this week and those woes continued tonight. In terms of 1st quarter points allowed (per teamrankings.com), Atlanta was 25th in the NBA coming into the game, allowing 31.6 points in the first quarter, and the Hawks were also 23rd in first-half points allowed (59.3).
They gave up 34 points in the first quarter and then gave up 35 in the second. Atlanta led by four at the half though because Trae Young had 33 points at halftime and the team was shooting well.
The Hawks had been a great third-quarter team this year. The Hawks were 2nd in 3rd quarter points in the NBA and 1st in second-half points per game coming into the day, but they had a terrible third quarter, being outscored 29-20 in the third and they found themselves trailing by five entering the final quarter.
With 8:13 left in the game, Atlanta trailed by 11 and it looked bleak for them. The offense was stalling and could not get anything going, Young was having a hard time hitting shots, and the defense could not come up with the necessary stops.
That changed though and the Hawks played a flawless final eight minutes.
A 14-2 run would ensue over the next four minutes and with 4:04 left in the game, Jalen Johnson put the Hawks in front, but the Magic were quick to respond.
With the game 117-115, Clint Capela went to the line with 1:20 left and a chance to tie the game thanks to a pair of free throws. He split the pair and the Hawks trailed by one. Young had a pair of free throws to try and take the lead, but he split them and the game was tied. A hook shot from Franz Wagner gave the lead to Orlando 119-117 with 43 seconds left, but that was enough time for Young and Dejounte Murray to get the offense going and do this:
Banchero would miss the game-winner and somehow, Atlanta came out on top 1120-119.
The Hawks shot 48.2% from the field and 38.5% from three. Turnovers were issues in this game, with the Hawks committing 18 of them.
Young finished with 41 points on 12-27 shooting, Johnson had 19 points and nine rebounds and Bogdanovic finished with 15 points on 6-11 shooting.
Orlando shot 46.7% from the field and 37.0% from three. Jalen Suggs finished with 21 points, while Banchero had 17.
Up next for Atlanta will be a home game against the Miami Heat on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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