The Hawks crushed the rebuilding San Antonio Spurs at State Farm Arena 125-106 on Saturday night. It was the first time Dejounte Murray faced his former team since being traded last offseason. The Spurs have the worst defense in the league in terms of allowing points per 100 possessions, and Trae Young took advantage, dropping dimes left and right.
Young ignited the Hawks’ offense early, as he and Clint Capela connected on multiple alley-oops in the first few minutes. De’Andre Hunter led the Hawks on a 15-4 run to take a 23-17 lead. He got to the free-throw line early and knocked down mid-range jumpers in rhythm to account for 12 of the Hawks’ first 27 points. San Antonio’s Jeremy Sochan, the ninth pick in last year’s draft, impressed with 11 points in the opening frame. While Atlanta took a 32-31 lead into the second quarter, their defense had to improve, as the Spurs scored a whopping 20 points in the paint.
As the Hawks’ bench unit came into the game with Murray, they struggled to score to begin the second quarter. San Antonio went on an extended 24-10 run to take their largest lead of the night at 43-37. Atlanta’s turnovers fueled transition opportunities for Keldon Johnson and Sochan. When Young, Hunter, John Collins and Capela entered the second quarter with 7:59 left, the offensive rhythm returned. While Murray struggled with his shot (1-8 FG) in the first half, the rest of the starters picked him up. The Hawks entered halftime with a 61-60 lead. Young had a 12-point, 10-assist, first-half double-double, Hunter led Atlanta with 17 and Capela totaled 12 points and eight boards. Johnson and Sochan each had 18 for the Spurs. The Hawks dropped 38 points in the paint against San Antonio, paving the way for a great offensive second half.
Coming out of halftime, Atlanta picked up the defensive intensity, protecting the Spurs’ guards from attacking the paint. The Hawks opened the quarter on a 14-2 run and never looked back. San Antonio’s first third-quarter field goal came with 6:33 left in the frame on a Malaki Branham second-chance bucket. Hunter continued to torch the Spurs from mid-range and Murray found a second-half rhythm, knocking down his first three of the night right in front of the Spurs’ bench. Atlanta outscored San Antonio 32-17 and entered the final frame with a 93-77 lead. As they grew the lead to 20 points at 109-89 with 6:26 left, the Hawks’ execution in the second half was too much for the Spurs to handle.
Every Hawks starter scored in double digits. Young totaled 24 points and 17 assists-one assist shy of tying his career high. After a slow start, Murray caught fire in the second half, finishing with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Collins added 17 points with two steals and two blocks. After two rough shooting games, Hunter dropped 24 points and added three steals. Capela put up a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double with three blocks, and Bogdan Bogdanovic dropped 13 off the bench.
Johnson led the Spurs with 25 points on 9-14 shooting, and Sochan dropped 18 points with nine boards. Branham added 10 points, but the Spurs only had three guys in double digits, as the Hawks clamped down on defense in the second half.
The Hawks travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets at the Spectrum Center on Monday night. Atlanta has a great opportunity for a three-game win streak, as they look to carry momentum toward the All-Star break.
