Two months ago, the Atlanta Hawks were not sure whether they’ll be able to make the playoffs, after their 2021 playoff run. They lost considerable number of games in the first part of the season having a 17-25 record late January.
Now, two months later, Atlanta was able to withhold Kevin Durant’s career night and win the ambitious Brooklyn Nets 122-115.
”We’re playing some good basketball right now,” Trae Young, who had 36 points, including nine in the final minute, said, via NBA.com.
The Hawks have won seven of their last 10 games, and they are on a five-game winning streak. They sit at 41-37 holding tightly to the eighth seed, a game ahead of Brooklyn (40-38) and Charlotte.
As for the Nets, they let Kevin Durant’s brilliant performance, end up in vain. The Nets’ superstar finished the night shooting 19-for-28 from the field, 8-for-10 from beyond the arc, 9-for-11 from the foul line.
He also added seven rebounds and three assists in 42 minutes in his 55-point career-high. The Hawks hold on to the win despite KD’s amazing performances.
“This is the team that we were seeing. It’s showing up at the right time. It’s good to get into a rhythm this time of the season and you take that into the next game,” Hawks HC Nate McMillan said after the game.
The Hawks did get outscored by the Nets’ superstar duo, but the key was their bench. They bench mob provided a spark with 46 points for the winning side, while the Nets’ bench scored just 12 points.
Irving and Durant combined for 86 of Brooklyn’s 115 points. Irving finished with 31 points on a 12-of-32 shooting night.
“We just have to ease his burden on the offensive end,” Irving said. “He’s going to be Kevin Durant. We know who he is. We know what he’s capable of, but we have to be there to support him.
Trae Young was the key figure for the Hawks having 11 points during the fourth quarter to finish with 36 points, 10 assists and six rebounds.
“We’re playing with some great pace, playing hard, playing with energy, just having some fun, and it’s being good for us” Young said in the postgame presser.
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