The Atlanta Hawks took down the Utah Jazz, 124-121, at the Delta Center on Tuesday night. Trae Young delivered a 24-point, 20-assist double-double and hit a 49-foot game-winner to break the Hawks three-game losing streak.
Atlanta held onto a 119-118 lead with one minute left in the fourth quarter. De’Andre Hunter had a great look from three but could not find the bottom of the net. Lauri Markkanen, who hit eight of his 15 triples for 35 points, was wide open in the left corner, but his shot also clanged off the rim. As a result, Utah fouled Young, sending him to the line for two free throws. The Hawks’ start hit both, setting up a three-point situation for the Jazz. After Dyson Daniels almost stole the inbound pass, Collin Sexton ended up with the ball and splashed a heavily contested three over Vít Krejčí to tie the game at 121. With no timeouts, Atlanta got the ball to Young on the run, and he hit the half-court heave, silencing the Utah crowd.
Though a close win against the Jazz is not a convincing result, the Hawks stopped their three-game losing streak against the Western Conference on this road trip. Jalen Johnson missed this contest due to his right shoulder injury. Before this game, Atlanta had a 1-3 record without Johnson, and all three losses came in blowout fashion.
The first quarter was all about the three-ball for the Jazz. They shot 9-13 from deep to overcome just two paint points due to Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu’s rim protection. After the Hawks built a 32-17 lead, Markkanen hit two consecutive triples, and former-Hawks player, Patty Mills, splashed three straight threes for a 15-5 Utah run. Atlanta held onto a 36-32 after one frame from 22 points in the paint and zero turnovers.
Zaccharie Risacher got hot in the second for seven points in the Hawks’ 14-2 to bring the lead back to 50-34. Atlanta was living in the paint, as Young kept finding Capela or Dyson Daniels for easy twos. While the Hawks dominated down low, the Jazz continued to light up the three-point arc. Markkanen hit his first five threes, and Utah went on a 10-2 run late in the second to cut the deficit to just three points at halftime. The Jazz only shot 41% from the field but 12 threes kept the game close with the Hawks shooting 49%.
Young had nine assists at halftime, but he put on a clinic in the second half. He scored or assisted on Atlanta’s first 21 points in the third quarter. The Jazz started driving to the paint more, challenging the Hawks inside rather than relying on their hot three-point shooting. Utah took its first lead in the frame, and between the 5:30-1:45 mark with Young on the bench, the Hawks only managed one field goal- a fastbreak dunk from Daniels. They took a four-point lead to the fourth quarter.
Walker Kessler made his presence felt in the fourth to give his squad a chance. After Utah went on a 9-2 run to take a two-point lead, Kessler scored on three consecutive possessions. However, Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Young each hit a three to set the scene with a minute left.
All five Hawks’ starters scored in double figures. Capela had 18 points and three blocks, Risacher totaled 14 points, and Krejčí ended with 13 points (3-4 3PT). Daniels stuffed the stat sheet for 16 points, seven dimes, six boards, two steals, and two blocks, while Hunter added 17 off the bench.
Sexton finished with 24 points, and Kessler put up a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double with three blocks.
The Hawks final stop on their West Coast trip will be on Thursday when they take the Phoenix Suns.
