Trae Young led the Atlanta Hawks to a 134-127 victory over the Houston Rockets, snapping Houston’s 11-game home winning streak. Young’s impressive performance included 30 points and 14 assists, marking his fifth consecutive game with at least 30 points and 10 assists, an NBA career-best streak.
Young’s achievement places him alongside players like Russell Westbrook and Michael Jordan, who previously accomplished similar feats.
Houston attempted a late comeback with a 14-0 run, reducing Atlanta’s lead to just four points, but the Hawks managed to hold on. Key contributions in the Rockets’ surge included Fred VanVleet’s five points and Dillon Brooks’ 3-pointer.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets Updates
A crucial jump shot by Young and a subsequent 3-pointer by Saddiq Bey in the final moments solidified the Hawks’ victory. Atlanta coach Quin Snyder highlighted Bey’s shot as a pivotal moment in the game.
“That was the biggest shot of the game,” Snyder said. “It was a huge play.”
The Hawks had built an early 20-point lead, fueled by eight first-quarter 3-pointers, and finished 17 of 40 from long range. Coach Snyder saw the win as a sign of growth, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus throughout the game.
“For us consistently to be able to focus throughout the game regardless of the situation, regardless of having a lead or not, is something we need to continue to focus on,” Snyder said. “We’re not there yet but when we get some situations that we handle well, I think it’s important to recognize them and emphasize them.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets Updates
For Houston, Jabari Smith Jr. scored a career-high 34 points with 13 rebounds, and VanVleet added a season-high 32 points and 15 assists. Despite their efforts, the Rockets faced their third consecutive loss.
VanVleet commented on the challenges of playing from behind, noting the difficulty of competing against top-level players and acknowledging that they didn’t sufficiently challenge the Hawks’ offense.
“It’s the best players in the world, it’s hard enough as is,” VanVleet said. “So it’s especially (tough) when you let a team get comfortable, let them play free and easy, let them get wide-open looks. They’re a good offensive team but we didn’t make it tough on them at all.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets Updates
The Hawks used a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to extend their lead, with Onyeka Okongwu contributing two free throws following a flagrant foul by Brooks. Despite efforts by Brooks and Jalen Green for Houston, Young’s crucial 3-pointer helped maintain Atlanta’s lead.
Looking ahead, the Hawks are set to visit the Miami Heat, while the Rockets will host the Dallas Mavericks, with both games scheduled for Friday night.
