Game ID: 22300543
Washington Wizards @ Atlanta Hawks
Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ATL 25 22 24 28 99WAS 30 28 41 28 127
ATL vs WAS ScoutingATL vs WAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
ATL availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 6 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 5 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 29 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 29 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 12/26 after 14, 32 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Fernando back 12/31 after 6, 15 min since (99% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 12/26 after 4, 9 min since (82% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/29 after 2, 10 min since (92% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 7 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 6 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 30 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 30 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 4 since 12/29, returns tonight: 8 min (74% of 12)
OUT Mills missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 12/26 after 14, 32 min since (94% of 34)
BACK Fernando back 12/31 after 6, 11 min since (72% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 12/26 after 4, 11 min since (98% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Hunter missed 8 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 7 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 31 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 31 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 3 since 1/03, returns tonight: 6 min (58% of 11)
BACK Fernando back 12/31 after 6, 11 min since (72% of 15)
BACK Matthews back 1/07 after 4, 8 min since (74% of 12)
BACK Forrest back 1/03 after 2, 14 min since (132% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 9 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 8 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 32 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 32 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 12/31 after 6, 13 min since (87% of 15)
BACK Matthews back 1/07 after 4, 8 min since (74% of 12)
BACK Forrest back 1/03 after 2, 16 min since (144% of 11)
BACK Mills back 1/10 after 3, 6 min since (58% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/13 · back-to-backOUT Hunter missed 10 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 9 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Mathews missed 2 since 1/10, returns tonight: 15 min (103% of 15)
OUT Gueye missed 33 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 33 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 2 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Forrest back 1/03 after 2, 17 min since (153% of 11)
BACK Mills back 1/10 after 3, 10 min since (98% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 11 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 10 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 34 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 34 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 3 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Mathews back 1/13 after 2, 15 min since (103% of 15)
BACK Mills back 1/10 after 3, 10 min since (98% of 11)
NEW Forrest 11 to 16 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 12 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 11 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 35 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 35 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 4 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 2 since 1/13, out tonight
BACK Mathews back 1/13 after 2, 14 min since (95% of 15)
NEW Forrest 11 to 16 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 13 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 12 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 2 since 1/15, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 36 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 36 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 5 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 3 since 1/13, returns tonight: 18 min (170% of 11)
BACK Mathews back 1/13 after 2, 14 min since (94% of 15)
NEW Forrest 11 to 16 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 1/20 · back-to-backOUT Hunter missed 14 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 13 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 3 since 1/15, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 15)
OUT Gueye missed 37 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 37 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 6 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Mathews back 1/13 after 2, 16 min since (103% of 15)
BACK Mills back 1/19 after 3, 18 min since (170% of 11)
WAS availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Gallinari missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Butler back 1/03 after 4, 9 min since (62% of 14)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 17 min since (120% of 14)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (47% of 12)
NEW Muscala 14 to 20 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 1/06 · back-to-backOUT Gallinari missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Butler back 1/03 after 4, 7 min since (50% of 14)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (48% of 12)
NEW Muscala 14 to 19 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 2 since 1/05, returns tonight: 16 min (103% of 16)
OUT Gallinari missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Butler back 1/03 after 4, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Davis back 1/03 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 12)
NEW Muscala 14 to 21 min over the last 5
WAS availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Gallinari missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 1/08 after 2, 16 min since (103% of 16)
BACK Butler back 1/03 after 4, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Davis back 1/03 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 12)
WAS availability going into 1/13 · 2 days' restOUT Gallinari missed 7 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 2 since 1/08, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 7 since 12/29, returns tonight: 18 min (140% of 13)
OUT Davis missed 2 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 1/08 after 2, 16 min since (103% of 16)
WAS availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 2 since 1/10, returns tonight: 14 min (88% of 16)
OUT Gallinari missed 8 since 12/29, not on tonight's roster
OUT Butler missed 3 since 1/08, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 3 since 1/08, returns tonight: 1 min (9% of 12)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 1/13 after 7, 18 min since (140% of 13)
WAS availability going into 1/18 · 2 days' restOUT Butler missed 4 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 1/08 after 2, 15 min since (95% of 16)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 1/13 after 7, 16 min since (122% of 13)
BACK Davis back 1/15 after 3, 1 min since (9% of 12)
WAS availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 5 since 1/08, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 1/08 after 2, 15 min since (93% of 16)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 1/13 after 7, 13 min since (97% of 13)
BACK Davis back 1/15 after 3, 1 min since (9% of 12)
WAS availability going into 1/21 · back-to-backOUT Gafford missed 2 since 1/18, returns tonight: 30 min (114% of 26)
OUT Butler missed 6 since 1/08, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 1/15 after 2, 11 min since (72% of 16)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 1/13 after 7, 13 min since (96% of 13)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 133, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Young at 22 a game. Without Hunter (10 straight), Krejčí (9 straight), Mathews (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 125, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Kuzma at 17 and Avdija at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-2 a night and Washington minus-11 and the line, where Atlanta takes 31 free throws a game to Washington's 21. Call it Atlanta 124, Washington 119.
1/05 @ IND 116-150 — ATL notes
ATL lost 116-150. ATL shot 43% (40 of 93) to IND's 64%, 10 of 42 from three, and went to the line 30 times to IND's 13 — 26 points from the stripe to their 11. Murray led with 30 (13 of 19, 2 of 3 from three); Bogdanović added 16, Young 13. Q4 was theirs, 33-33, but the other 3 periods went 117-83 against them. Young's -28 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 @ ORL 110-117 — ATL notes
ATL lost 110-117 in 1 overtime. ATL shot 46% (42 of 91) to ORL's 44%, 9 of 30 from three, and went to the line 29 times to ORL's 22 — 17 points from the stripe to their 14. Young led with 31 (11 of 23, 2 of 9 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Murray added 24, Bogdanović 18. Q2 was theirs, 32-19, turning a 4-point deficit into a 9-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 98-78 against them. Johnson's -20 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/10 vs PHI 139-132 — ATL notes
ATL won 139-132 in 1 overtime. ATL shot 47% (48 of 102) to PHI's 45%, 12 of 34 from three, and went to the line 42 times to PHI's 33 — 31 points from the stripe to their 28. Young led with 28 (7 of 22, 2 of 8 from three, 12 of 14 at the line); Johnson added 25, Murray 25. The hinge was OT1, 14-7: from level to 7 ahead. ATL trailed 61-64 at the half and won the second half 78-68. Bogdanović was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/12 vs IND 108-126 — ATL notes
ATL lost 108-126. ATL took 10 more shots (89 to 79), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to IND's 67%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 23 times to IND's 12 — 17 points from the stripe to their 9. ATL turned it over 14 times to IND's 25. The glass went 28-45 against them. Murray led with 29 (13 of 18, 3 of 6 from three); Bey added 17, Johnson 16. Q4 was theirs, 27-27, but the other 3 periods went 99-81 against them. Bogdanović's -24 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/13 vs WAS 99-127 — ATL notes
ATL lost 99-127. ATL shot 34% (32 of 93) to WAS's 48%, 11 of 40 from three, and went to the line 33 times to WAS's 26 — 24 points from the stripe to their 21. Young led with 21 (6 of 19, 2 of 10 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Bey added 16, Bogdanović 14. Q4 was theirs, 28-28, but the other 3 periods went 99-71 against them. Young's -23 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/15 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 130, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 31 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Young at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Hunter (11 straight), Krejčí (10 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Vassell at 18 a game. Without Collins (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 114 a night to Atlanta's 130 and the arc, San Antonio at 39 percent from three to Atlanta's 30. Call it San Antonio 122, Atlanta 119, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/17 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 120, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 30 free throws a game; Young at 26 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Hunter (12 straight), Krejčí (11 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 106, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; Banchero at 24 and M. Wagner at 15 a game. Without F. Wagner (6 straight), Gar. Harris (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 106 a night to Atlanta's 120 and the line, where Atlanta takes 30 free throws a game to Orlando's 21. Call it Atlanta 114, Orlando 113, Orlando keeping it close.
1/19 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Herro at 21 and Adebayo at 19 a game. Without Jaquez Jr. (2 straight), Love (3 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Young at 23 and Murray at 21 a game. Without Hunter (13 straight), Krejčí (12 straight), Fernando (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 105 a night to Atlanta's 118 and the line, where Atlanta takes 28 free throws a game to Miami's 20. Call it Miami 115, Atlanta 111, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/20 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Young at 22 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Hunter (14 straight), Krejčí (13 straight), Fernando (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 99, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Allen at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Garland (14 straight), Eva. Mobley (18 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-11 a night and Atlanta minus-3 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 99 a night to Atlanta's 113. Call it Cleveland 117, Atlanta 109.
1/05 @ CLE 90-114 — WAS notes
WAS lost 90-114. WAS shot 42% (35 of 84) to CLE's 53%, 9 of 30 from three, and got to the line 15 times to CLE's 23. WAS turned it over 16 times to CLE's 23. The glass went 31-52 against them. Jones led with 16 (6 of 10, 4 of 6 from three); Coulibaly added 15, Avdija 13. Q4 was theirs, 31-30, the deficit cut from 25 to 24, but the other 3 periods went 84-59 against them. Avdija's -22 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/06 vs NYK 105-121 — WAS notes
WAS lost 105-121. WAS shot 47% (40 of 85) to NYK's 49%, 13 of 37 from three. WAS turned it over 20 times to NYK's 14, and NYK turned those into 9 steals. Kuzma led with 27 (10 of 21, 4 of 10 from three); Avdija added 23, Jones 11. Q3 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 20 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 93-73 against them. Coulibaly's -22 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 vs OKC 128-136 — WAS notes
WAS lost 128-136. WAS shot 49% (44 of 89) to OKC's 59%, 15 of 32 from three. Poole led with 24 (8 of 17, 4 of 8 from three); Kuzma added 22, Jones 18. Q3 was theirs, 36-35, the deficit cut from 6 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 101-92 against them. Avdija's -20 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/10 @ IND 104-112 — WAS notes
WAS lost 104-112. WAS shot 43% (38 of 88) to IND's 45%, 7 of 31 from three, and went to the line 30 times to IND's 24 — 21 points from the stripe to their 22. Poole led with 28 (11 of 21, 2 of 7 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Kispert added 15, Avdija 15. Q2 was theirs, 34-31, turning a 2-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 81-70 against them. Kispert's -11 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/13 @ ATL 127-99 — WAS notes
WAS won 127-99. WAS shot 48% (47 of 97) to ATL's 34%, 12 of 32 from three, and got to the line 26 times to ATL's 33. Kuzma led with 29 (10 of 20, 3 of 5 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Poole added 20, Avdija 19. The hinge was Q3, 41-24: a lead of 11 became 28. Gafford was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
1/15 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Kuzma at 20 and Avdija at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Shamet (2 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bogdanović at 18 and Duren at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Cunningham (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the line, where Washington takes 24 free throws a game to Detroit's 18 and the defense, Washington allowing 116 a night to Detroit's 123. Call it Washington 119, Detroit 115, Detroit keeping it close.
1/18 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 100, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Randle at 24 and Brunson at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Robinson (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Poole at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-10 a night and Washington minus-5 and the defense, New York allowing 100 a night to Washington's 119. Call it New York 118, Washington 110.
1/20 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Kuzma at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 26 and Johnson at 14 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Washington wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Washington 119, San Antonio 115, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/21 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Poole at 21 and Kuzma at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Gafford (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 53 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and Washington minus-5 and the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to Washington's 35. Call it Denver 118, Washington 115, Washington keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
WASBC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
DA D. Avdija
DG D. Gafford
DW D. Wright
HD H. Diallo
JB J. Bernard
JP J. Poole
KK K. Kuzma
PB P. Baldwin Jr.
TJ T. Jones
ATLAG A. Griffin
BB B. Bogdanović
BF B. Fernando
BO Bogdanovic
CC C. Capela
DM D. Murray
GM G. Mathews
JJ J. Johnson
OO O. Okongwu
SB S. Bey
SL S. Lundy
TF T. Forrest
TY T. Young
WAS/ATL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Kuzma, Wizards roll to 127-99 win in Hawks' worst offensive performance of the season
ATLANTA -- — Kyle Kuzma scored 29 points and the Washington Wizards took advantage of the Atlanta Hawks ' worst offensive night this season to roll to a 127-99 victory on Saturday.
Jordan Poole added 20 points for the Wizards, who snapped a six-game losing streak and improved their road record to 4-18 this season. It was their largest victory of the season.
“I thought we really played well tonight,” said Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. “Our overall energy and our creativity offensively. We played with the right amount of force on both sides.”
The Wizards held the Hawks to a season-low 34% shooting from the field. The Hawks also failed to score 100 points for the first time this season and ended their streak of 94 straight games with at least 100 points, the third-longest in NBA history.
The Hawks had beaten the Wizards all three games this season and six straight dating back to last season.
Trae Young had 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting for the Hawks, who trailed by 28 points at the end of the third quarter. The Hawks fell to 6-11 at home.
“We didn’t have a quarter over 30 (points). That’s not like us,” Young said. “We didn’t score 100. That’s not like us. It was just one of those nights. We played last night against (the Pacers), a team that runs a lot, and I guarantee (the Wizards) knew that and they pushed the pace and were physical and pushed it right back to us.”
Deni Avdija had 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, and was the primary defender on Young for the Wizards.
Hawks guard Dejounte Murray , who was questionable but played with a strained hamstring, had 11 points. That broke a streak of six straight games of scoring 20 or more. He has been the subject of trade speculation ahead of the NBA's Feb. 8 trade deadline.
On a freezing night in Atlanta, the Hawks were frigid on the floor. The Wizards, who ranked last in the NBA in points allowed per game at 125.9, held the league's fourth-highest scoring team to 31% shooting and 28 from behind the 3-point line in the first half.
“It can be deflating when you get the looks you want,” Young said. “We’re getting good shots and they are not going in. The first half, we were still playing pretty good defense, but also, we were missing shots we’re supposed to be making. It gives them a lift, too.”
Leading 75-60 midway through the third quarter, the Wizards put away the game with a 24-11 run to close the quarter. The Wizards led by double digits for the final 23 minutes.
“At times, we’ve had issues (playing with leads),” Unseld said. “We can get a little momentum, and then we can have one of those lulls and let people back into the game. We didn’t do that tonight. We stayed aggressive. We put our foot down and stretched that lead, which was big for us.”
UP NEXT
Wizards: Home against the Pistons on Monday.
Hawks: Host the Spurs on Monday afternoon in their annual home Martin Luther King Jr. Day game.