Trae Young led the Atlanta Hawks with a stellar 40-point, 13-assist performance, while his teammate Dejounte Murray contributed significantly with 32 points. The Hawks managed to defeat the Washington Wizards with a final score of 130-126 on Sunday’s NBA action, despite a shaky beginning and less-than-ideal foul shooting towards the game’s end.
Jalen Johnson had an outstanding day, achieving a personal best with 24 points and securing 13 rebounds. This contribution was part of a larger team effort, with four Hawks players earning double-doubles, a key factor in their consistent wins against the Wizards this season.
Clint Capela and Saddiq Bey were also notable contributors, with Capela earning 11 points and 17 rebounds and Bey achieving 11 points and 11 rebounds. Trae Young emphasized the importance of his and Murray’s roles in setting up their teammates for success.
“It’s up to me and (Dejounte) to put guys into positions to be successful,” Young said. ”We just try to mix it up and let everybody show their talent.”
A critical advantage for Atlanta was their rebounding, outdoing Washington 58-42. This edge was vital in breaking their four-game losing streak. The game’s close finish was attributed to Atlanta’s poor free-throw performance in the final quarter, with Young missing five of his free throws.
“I missed five free throws tonight, which is crazy,” Young said. “That allowed them to stay in the game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards Updates
On the Wizards’ side, Kyle Kuzma was a standout, scoring 38 points and making seven 3-pointers. Despite his efforts, including setting a team record with 18 three-point attempts out of the team’s total 53, the Wizards couldn’t clinch their first back-to-back wins of the season, coach Wes Unseld Jr. remarked on the need to balance their shot selection more effectively.
“Honestly, the vast majority of them were pretty good,” Unseld said. “It’s just finding that balance of great shots, open 3s, versus when you’re not making them, get to the paint, create something downhill.”
Deni Advija also had a strong performance for the Wizards, with 17 points and 12 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide during their four-game homestand, where they only managed one win.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards Updates
The Hawks established their lead in the second quarter and finished the first half strongly. They maintained control through the game, despite a brief challenge from the Wizards in the third quarter.
The end of the game saw the Hawks struggling with free throws, which, combined with quick scoring from the Wizards, led to some tense final moments. Atlanta coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the challenges at the game’s end but preferred to focus on the team’s overall strong performance.
“The end of the game became a little bit of an adventure,” Snyder said. “But I don’t want that to detract from the things that we did for the majority of the game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards Updates
Looking ahead, the Hawks are set to host the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Wizards will face the Cleveland Cavaliers, both games scheduled for Wednesday.
