Peachtree Hoops: Hawks end 2023 with a 130-126 victory over the Washington Wizards

[Hawksquawk]

Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Wizards on New Year’s Eve by a score of 130-126. Trae Young, who was listed as probable with a right knee contusion, was available while Onyeka Okongwu was out with an illness. Starting for the Hawks were Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela.

The Hawks got off to a very slow start, reaching a 15-4 deficit within the first four minutes of play. Kyle Kuzma had his way in the first quarter, shooting 4-for-7 from beyond the arc with 15 points. The Hawks picked up their performance, taking a 28-27 lead late in the first quarter. However, a last second heave gave the Wizards the lead again.

DENI ENDIN' Q1 WITH A BUCKET AT THE BUZZER. pic.twitter.com/6GRBnkp3uD

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 31, 2023

Trae Young led the way with 11 points for the Hawks. The Hawks then got off to a much better offensive start to the second quarter. With a little over seven minutes remaining, an incredible lob from Trae Young to Jalen Johnson gave the Hawks the lead.

MAKING THE DUNK OF THE YEAR ON DEC. 31st@Jalen_J23 | @TheTraeYoung pic.twitter.com/K33LlGUPfK

— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) December 31, 2023

The Hawks went on to outscore the Wizards by a margin of 42-28 in the second quarter, largely thanks to Jalen Johnson. The Hawks led 70-58 at halftime.

Lines at half

Trae Young: 18 pts (3-4 3FG), 9 ast
Jalen Johnson: 18 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast
Dejounte Murray: 15 pts, 3 reb

— joe schmidt (@Joe_Schmidt07) December 31, 2023

Early in the third quarter, Young and Johnson had both scored 20 points a piece. Young had a double-double in assists while Johnson had his own with ten rebounds. On the other side, Kyle Kuzma brought his point total to 31 with over five minutes still remaining in the third quarter.

A series of buckets from Dejounte Murray extended the Hawks’ lead to 11 late in the third quarter. He brought his point total to 25 entering the fourth as the Hawks led 100-87. The Hawks were able to maintain the lead throughout the fourth quarter until the final minutes. With under a minute remaining, a put-back dunk narrowed the Hawks’ lead to just five points. While the Wizards made a push in the end and the Hawks struggled from the stripe, the Hawks still pulled out the win.

Trae Young led the way with 40 points, Dejounte Murray scored an impressive 32, and Jalen Johnson scored a career high 24 points.

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