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Weekly Report: Hawks Return to Icy Atlanta After 2-4 Road Trip

Atlanta Hawks
(Chris Nicoll / Imagn Images)

Hawks Game 37: Jan. 7, 2024

Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz

Final Score: ATL 124 – UTA 121

The Atlanta Hawks broke their three-game skid with a win over the Utah Jazz in unbelievable fashion. Trae Young hit two free throws to give his squad a 121-118 lead with nine seconds left in the fourth quarter. After the Jazz advanced the ball, Dyson Daniels deflected Isaiah Collier’s inbound pass, but the ball found Collin Sexton, and he splashed a contested three over Vít Krejčí to tie the game. With four seconds to go and no timeouts, Atlanta got the ball to Young. From 49 feet, he swished home a game-winner, shocking the Delta Center crowd with his third career game-winning buzzer-beater.

While a close game against a lottery-bound team is not ideal, Atlanta got the much-needed victory without Jalen Johnson, who missed his third game out of the last four due to right shoulder soreness/inflammation. Young’s game-winner capped off a 24-point, 20-rebound performance. Clint Capela had his best offensive game of the road trip with 18 points (9-11 FG) and three blocks, while Zaccharie Risacher got hot in the third quarter and finished with 14 points. Daniels scored 16 with seven dimes, two steals, and two blocks, and De’Andre Hunter added 17 points off the bench.

Lauri Markkanen started 5-5 from beyond the arc, finishing 8-15 for 35 points. Sexton dropped 24 points, while Walker Kessler had 21 points, 10 boards and three blocks. He dominated in the fourth quarter, scoring on five straight possessions to cut Atlanta’s lead to one with 1:33 on the game clock.

Game 38: Jan. 9, 2024

Atlanta Hawks at Phoenix Suns

Final Score: ATL 115 – PHX 123

It was a tale of two halves for the Hawks in their loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. Atlanta scored 72 points in the first half, shooting 12-18 from beyond the arc. The Hawks scored 40 points without a turnover in the second quarter but only took a four-point lead into halftime. They could not stop the Suns’ offense. Phoenix scored 38 points on a red-hot 15-20 from the field in the first quarter.

Both teams slowed down offensively in the second half, but the Hawks only scored 43 points compared to the Suns’ 55. Atlanta shot 3-14 from downtown and 15-41 from the field. Kevin Durant had 16 points in the first half but finished with 23 points. Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen picked up their superstar teammate in the second with 25 and 23 points, respectively. Devin Booker also had 20 points and 12 assists.

Young led the Hawks with 21 points but shot 6-15 from the floor. Clint Capela had 10 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks, while Bogdan Bogdanović had his best shooting night on the road trip for 17 points (7-11 FG).

A Silver Lining Postponement

It is rare for events to be canceled in Atlanta, GA, due to icy road conditions; however, that is precisely what happened on Saturday. The matchup between the Houston Rockets and Hawks was postponed when ice covered the roads after Winter Storm Cora came through the area.

While the postponement may result in a complicated schedule later, Johnson was set to miss his fourth straight game due to his shoulder injury. This outcome gives Atlanta’s young star a longer time to recover and possibly return in a rematch with the Suns on Tuesday at State Farm Arena.

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