Game ID: 22300371
Atlanta Hawks @ Houston Rockets
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 29 36 35 27 127ATL 39 38 21 36 134
ATL @ HOU ScoutingATL @ HOU 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.
HOU availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 12/06, returns tonight: 10 min (76% of 14)
BACK Thompson back 12/11 after 15, 10 min since (46% of 22)
NEW Holiday 16 to 22 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 12/11 after 15, 10 min since (46% of 22)
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 10 min since (76% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 9 min since (69% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/18 · back-to-backOUT Thompson missed 3 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 9 min since (69% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 4 since 12/13, returns tonight: 8 min (38% of 22)
OUT Whitmore missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 8 min since (56% of 14)
NEW Eason 22 to 28 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 8 since 12/06, returns tonight: 14 min (76% of 19)
BACK Thompson back 12/20 after 4, 8 min since (38% of 22)
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 8 min since (56% of 14)
NEW Eason 22 to 28 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 2 since 12/20, returns tonight: 20 min (94% of 22)
BACK Thompson back 12/20 after 4, 15 min since (67% of 22)
BACK Whitmore back 12/22 after 8, 14 min since (76% of 19)
HOU availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restBACK Thompson back 12/20 after 4, 14 min since (60% of 22)
BACK Eason back 12/23 after 2, 20 min since (94% of 22)
BACK Whitmore back 12/22 after 8, 14 min since (76% of 19)
HOU availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 18 min (95% of 19)
OUT Landale missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 12 min (88% of 14)
BACK Thompson back 12/20 after 4, 13 min since (59% of 22)
BACK Eason back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (106% of 22)
ATL availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 7 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 18 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 18 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Forrest back 12/08 after 3, 12 min since (115% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/08 after 5, 17 min since (157% of 11)
ATL availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Hunter missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 6 since 11/30, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 15)
OUT Gueye missed 19 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 19 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 11 min (99% of 11)
OUT Mills missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 1 min (10% of 11)
NEW Bey 33 to 38 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 12/16 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Hunter missed 3 since 12/11, returns tonight: 26 min (89% of 30)
OUT Gueye missed 20 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 20 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 12/15 after 6, 1 min since (7% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 12/08 after 3, 12 min since (107% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/08 after 5, 9 min since (83% of 11)
NEW Bey 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Capela 26 to 31 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 10 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 21 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 21 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 12/16 after 3, 26 min since (89% of 30)
BACK Fernando back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (56% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 12/08 after 3, 10 min since (94% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/08 after 5, 10 min since (95% of 11)
NEW Bey 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Capela 26 to 32 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 11 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 2 since 12/16, returns tonight: 30 min (97% of 30)
OUT Gueye missed 22 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 22 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 12/16 after 3, 28 min since (94% of 30)
BACK Fernando back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (56% of 15)
BACK Forrest back 12/15 after 2, 9 min since (83% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/15 after 2, 7 min since (65% of 11)
NEW Bey 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Capela 26 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Matthews 12 to 17 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Johnson missed 12 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 23 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 23 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 12 min (115% of 11)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/20 after 2, 30 min since (97% of 30)
BACK Hunter back 12/16 after 3, 28 min since (94% of 30)
ATL availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 13 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 24 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 24 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Bogdanović back 12/20 after 2, 32 min since (107% of 30)
BACK Hunter back 12/16 after 3, 28 min since (94% of 30)
BACK Mills back 12/15 after 2, 9 min since (81% of 11)
ATL availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Johnson missed 14 since 11/26, returns tonight: 29 min (87% of 34)
OUT Hunter missed 2 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 25 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 25 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 4 since 12/18, returns tonight: 4 min (32% of 11)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/20 after 2, 33 min since (109% of 30)
BACK Mills back 12/22 after 2, 12 min since (115% of 11)
ATL availability going into 12/29 · 2 days' restOUT Hunter missed 3 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 26 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 26 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Mills missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 11 min (106% of 11)
BACK Johnson back 12/26 after 14, 29 min since (87% of 34)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/20 after 2, 33 min since (107% of 30)
BACK Forrest back 12/26 after 4, 4 min since (32% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; VanVleet at 18 and Sengun at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Thompson (4 straight), Whitmore (7 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Young at 32 and Bogdanović at 27 a game. Without Johnson (11 straight), Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 109 a night to Atlanta's 124 and the line, where Houston takes 27 free throws a game to Atlanta's 19. Call it Houston 119, Atlanta 114.
12/13 vs MEM 117-104 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-104. HOU shot 45% (39 of 86) to MEM's 43%, 12 of 32 from three. HOU turned it over 19 times to MEM's 11. The glass went 58-39 for them. Eason led with 25 (10 of 16, 3 of 4 from three); Smith Jr. added 20, VanVleet 11. The hinge was Q4, 35-23: a lead of 1 became 13, and the lead reached 19. Eason was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/15 @ MEM 103-96 — HOU notes
HOU won 103-96. HOU shot 36% (32 of 88) to MEM's 40%, 11 of 29 from three, and went to the line 32 times to MEM's 15 — 28 points from the stripe to their 11. HOU turned it over 11 times to MEM's 17. Brooks led with 26 (10 of 20, 3 of 9 from three); VanVleet added 16, Sengun 15. The hinge was Q3, 30-19: HOU came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 1. HOU trailed 45-55 at the half and won the second half 58-41.
12/17 @ MIL 119-128 — HOU notes
HOU lost 119-128. HOU shot 53% (45 of 85) to MIL's 50%, 11 of 27 from three, and got to the line 21 times to MIL's 32. HOU turned it over 9 times to MIL's 15. The glass went 31-46 against them. VanVleet led with 22 (8 of 16, 4 of 8 from three); Sengun added 20, Brooks 18. Q3 was theirs, 31-29, the deficit cut from 11 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 99-88 against them. Brooks's -15 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 @ CLE 130-135 — HOU notes
HOU lost 130-135 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 46% (47 of 102) to CLE's 48%, 12 of 33 from three, and got to the line 27 times to CLE's 34. VanVleet led with 27 (9 of 19, 4 of 8 from three); Sengun added 24, Brooks 16. Q1 was theirs, 34-33, but the other 4 periods went 102-96 against them. Smith Jr.'s -17 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/20 vs ATL 127-134 — HOU notes
HOU lost 127-134. HOU shot 49% (44 of 89) to ATL's 52%, 16 of 34 from three. Smith Jr. led with 34 (8 of 14, 4 of 7 from three, 14 of 14 at the line); VanVleet added 32, Brooks 19. Q3 was theirs, 35-21, turning a 12-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 113-92 against them.
12/22 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; VanVleet at 22 and Brooks at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Whitmore (8 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and Hardaway Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Irving (6 straight), Green (9 straight), Lively II (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-2 a night and Dallas minus-5 and the line, where Houston takes 28 free throws a game to Dallas's 21. Call it Houston 119, Dallas 114.
12/23 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and McCollum at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Nance Jr. (11 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; VanVleet at 21 and Sengun at 19 a game. Without Eason (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Houston's 38 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-7 a night and Houston plus-1. Call it New Orleans 119, Houston 113.
12/26 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Smith Jr. at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Haliburton at 18 and Turner at 17 a game. Without Sheppard (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to Indiana's 18. Call it Houston 122, Indiana 117.
12/27 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 25 and VanVleet at 19 a game. Without Whitmore (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 28 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Beal (4 straight), Nurkić (2 straight), Bates-Diop (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 34 percent from three to Phoenix's 28. Call it Houston 117, Phoenix 113, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/13 @ TOR 128-135 — ATL notes
ATL lost 128-135. ATL took 13 more shots (100 to 87), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 48% to TOR's 57%, 18 of 41 from three. ATL turned it over 7 times to TOR's 14. Young led with 35 (13 of 27, 4 of 9 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Murray added 20, Bogdanović 20. Q1 was theirs, 39-31, but the other 3 periods went 104-89 against them. They led by as many as 12. Capela's -17 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 @ TOR 125-104 — ATL notes
ATL won 125-104. ATL shot 51% (52 of 101) to TOR's 52%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 6 times to TOR's 25. The glass went 55-32 for them. Young led with 38 (15 of 29, 7 of 15 from three); Bogdanović added 20, Capela 18. The hinge was Q4, 38-26: a lead of 9 became 21, and the lead reached 24. Bey was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/16 @ CLE 119-127 — ATL notes
ATL lost 119-127. ATL shot 48% (41 of 85) to CLE's 49%, 15 of 36 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CLE's 15 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. The glass went 34-49 against them. Young led with 35 (11 of 21, 7 of 12 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Murray added 21, Hunter 18. Q3 was theirs, 29-22, the deficit cut from 18 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 105-90 against them. Okongwu's -15 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 vs DET 130-124 — ATL notes
ATL won 130-124. ATL shot 54% (46 of 85) to DET's 51%, 16 of 36 from three. Young led with 31 (8 of 17, 4 of 11 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Bey added 21, Murray 20. The hinge was Q1, 38-25: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Young was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/20 @ HOU 134-127 — ATL notes
ATL won 134-127. ATL shot 52% (47 of 91) to HOU's 49%, 17 of 40 from three. Young led with 30 (10 of 18, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Bogdanović added 22, Murray 21. The hinge was Q1, 39-29: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Bey was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/22 @ 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 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 44 from three, 24 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Jaquez Jr. at 15 a game. Without Jović (7 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Young at 34 and Bogdanović at 21 a game. Without Johnson (12 straight), Fernando (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 112 a night to Atlanta's 123 and the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-3 a night and Miami minus-2. Call it Miami 120, Atlanta 117, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/23 vs MEM — 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 124 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Young at 33 and Bogdanović at 22 a game. Without Johnson (13 straight), Fernando (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 24 and Bane at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Smart (16 straight), Jackson (2 straight), Kennard (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-3 a night and Memphis minus-5 and the defense, Memphis allowing 110 a night to Atlanta's 121. Call it Atlanta 118, Memphis 113.
12/26 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and White at 20 a game. Without LaVine (12 straight), Craig (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Young at 31 and Murray at 22 a game. Without Johnson (14 straight), Hunter (2 straight), Fernando (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the defense, Chicago allowing 107 a night to Atlanta's 125 and the line, where Atlanta takes 23 free throws a game to Chicago's 17. Call it Chicago 119, Atlanta 115, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/29 vs SAC — 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 122 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Young at 28 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Hunter (3 straight), Krejčí (2 straight), Fernando (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and Sabonis at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 13 times a game to Sacramento's 9. Call it Atlanta 123, Sacramento 119, Sacramento keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
ATLBB B. Bogdanović
BO Bogdanovic
CC C. Capela
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Murray
GM G. Mathews
OO O. Okongwu
SB S. Bey
TY T. Young
WM W. Matthews
HOU/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
Young has 30 points, 14 assists as Hawks down Rockets 134-127
HOUSTON -- — Trae Young had 30 points and 14 assists as the Atlanta Hawks withstood a late charge by Houston to get a 134-127 victory Wednesday night, ending an 11-game home winning streak for the Rockets.
It’s the fifth straight game in which Young has had at least 30 points and 10 assists, which is the longest such streak of his career. The last two players to have done it in five straight games are Russell Westbrook in March 2017 and Michael Jordan in April 1989.
Houston used an 14-0 run to cut the lead to 127-123 with about 90 seconds to go. Fred VanVleet had five points in that stretch and Dillon Brooks capped it with a 3-pointer.
Young scored Atlanta’s first points in almost five minutes on a jump shot after that. But Young turned the ball over a few seconds later and a layup by Brooks got the Rockets within four again with just under a minute to go.
Saddiq Bey made a 3-pointer for the Hawks to stretch the lead to 132-125 with 35 seconds left and Atlanta held on for the win.
“That was the biggest shot of the game,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said. “It was a huge play.”
The Hawks led by as many as 20 early after making eight 3-pointers in the first quarter. They cooled down after that and finished with 17 of 40 from long-range.
Snyder said that finishing off this game after losing such a big lead is a sign of growth for his team.
“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,” he 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.”
Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with a career-high 34 points with 13 rebounds and VanVleet had a season-high 32 points with 15 assists as Houston lost a third straight game.
VanVleet said it was difficult to be playing from behind for most of the night.
“It’s the best players in the world, it’s hard enough as is,” he 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.”
Atlanta had an 8-point lead before using a 10-0 run to make it 127-109 midway through the fourth. Onyeka Okongwu made two free throws in that span after Brooks was called for a flagrant-1 foul after hitting him in the groin area while trying to get past a screen.
A 7-0 run by Atlanta made it 114-103 with about eight minutes to go. Brooks and Jalen Green made 3-pointers for Houston but Young made one for Atlanta in between Houston’s two buckets to cut the lead to 117-109.