Game ID: 22300445
Atlanta Hawks @ Washington Wizards
Sunday, December 31, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
WAS 30 28 29 39 126ATL 28 42 30 30 130
ATL @ WAS ScoutingATL @ 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.
WAS availability going into 12/22 · back-to-backOUT Shamet missed 8 since 12/06, returns tonight: 13 min (80% of 16)
OUT Wright missed 19 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 3 since 12/17, returns tonight: 8 min (58% of 13)
OUT Davis missed 8 since 12/06, out tonight
WAS availability going into 12/26 · 3 days' restOUT Wright missed 20 since 11/12, returns tonight: 13 min (97% of 14)
OUT Davis missed 9 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 13 min since (80% of 16)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 8 min since (58% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Davis missed 10 since 12/06, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 10 min since (66% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 13 min since (97% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 8 min since (58% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 10 min since (66% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 13 min since (97% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 7 min since (53% of 13)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (51% of 12)
WAS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 12 min since (78% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 15 min since (109% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 7 min since (53% of 13)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (51% of 12)
WAS availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Gallinari missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 4 since 12/26, returns tonight: 9 min (62% of 14)
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 5 min (42% of 12)
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 14 min since (86% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 16 min since (115% of 14)
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
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)
ATL availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 4 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 6 since 12/18, returns tonight: 15 min (99% of 15)
OUT Gueye missed 27 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 27 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 12/26 after 14, 32 min since (95% of 34)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/20 after 2, 31 min since (104% of 30)
BACK Forrest back 12/26 after 4, 4 min since (32% of 11)
BACK Mills back 12/22 after 2, 12 min since (110% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Hunter missed 5 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 28 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 28 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 14 min (131% of 11)
BACK Johnson back 12/26 after 14, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Fernando back 12/31 after 6, 15 min since (99% of 15)
BACK Mills back 12/22 after 2, 11 min since (99% of 11)
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)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 19 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Young at 27 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Hunter (4 straight), Krejčí (3 straight), Fernando (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-11. Call it Washington 121, Atlanta 120, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/22 @ GSW 118-129 — WAS notes
WAS lost 118-129. WAS shot 45% (44 of 97) to GSW's 48%, 11 of 35 from three. The glass went 39-57 against them. Poole led with 25 (7 of 21, 3 of 12 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Kispert added 18, Gafford 15. Q4 was theirs, 35-28, the deficit cut from 18 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 101-83 against them. Kispert's -20 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs ORL 119-127 — WAS notes
WAS lost 119-127. WAS shot 49% (43 of 87) to ORL's 53%, 16 of 42 from three. Poole led with 30 (11 of 20, 6 of 11 from three); Jones added 22, Kuzma 17. Q4 was theirs, 31-29, the deficit cut from 10 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 98-88 against them. Poole's -18 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/27 vs TOR 102-132 — WAS notes
WAS lost 102-132. WAS shot 47% (42 of 90) to TOR's 57%, 8 of 33 from three. The glass went 34-53 against them. Kuzma led with 14 (6 of 13, 1 of 5 from three); Poole added 14, Kispert 13. Q2 was theirs, 25-28, but the other 3 periods went 104-77 against them. Kuzma's -21 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 vs BKN 110-104 — WAS notes
WAS won 110-104. WAS shot 51% (46 of 91) to BKN's 43%, 15 of 38 from three, and got to the line 7 times to BKN's 27. The glass went 43-54 against them. Kuzma led with 26 (11 of 22, 4 of 10 from three); Avdija added 21, Kispert 15. The hinge was Q4, 26-18: WAS came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 6. Muscala was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/31 vs ATL 126-130 — WAS notes
WAS lost 126-130. WAS shot 47% (46 of 98) to ATL's 49%, 17 of 53 from three, and got to the line 21 times to ATL's 37. The glass went 42-58 against them. Kuzma led with 38 (15 of 31, 7 of 18 from three); Avdija added 17, Kispert 15. Q4 was theirs, 39-30, the deficit cut from 13 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 100-87 against them. They led by as many as 13. Coulibaly's -18 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 21 and LeVert at 19 a game. Without Garland (8 straight), Eva. Mobley (12 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 20 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-3 a night and Washington minus-11 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 114 a night to Washington's 124. Call it Cleveland 120, Washington 113.
1/05 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and LeVert at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Garland (9 straight), Eva. Mobley (13 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Kispert at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-9 a night and Washington minus-13 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to Washington's 127. Call it Cleveland 123, Washington 111, Cleveland by 12.
1/06 vs NYK — 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 106 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 14 free throws a game; Kuzma at 21 and Avdija at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 19 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Randle at 30 and Brunson at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Robinson (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-8 a night and Washington minus-19 and the defense, New York allowing 111 a night to Washington's 124. Call it New York 120, Washington 112.
1/08 vs OKC — 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 106 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Avdija at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 15 a night. Without Shamet (2 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 118, shooting 53 percent and 43 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Holmgren at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been minus-4 a night and Washington minus-15 and the arc, OKC at 43 percent from three to Washington's 34. Call it OKC 122, Washington 115.
12/22 @ MIA 113-122 — ATL notes
ATL lost 113-122. ATL took 10 more shots (96 to 86), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to MIA's 47%, 19 of 54 from three, and got to the line 14 times to MIA's 30. Young led with 30 (10 of 22, 7 of 13 from three); Murray added 24, Bogdanović 23. Q2 was theirs, 34-29, the deficit cut from 7 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 93-79 against them. They led by as many as 11. Bey's -12 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 vs MEM 119-125 — ATL notes
ATL lost 119-125. ATL shot 47% (45 of 96) to MEM's 52%, 13 of 43 from three. The glass went 41-51 against them. Young led with 30 (11 of 24, 3 of 10 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Murray added 26, Capela 20. Q1 was theirs, 32-25, but the other 3 periods went 100-87 against them. They led by as many as 12. Lundy's -9 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 @ CHI 113-118 — ATL notes
ATL lost 113-118. ATL shot 46% (41 of 89) to CHI's 46%, 13 of 45 from three, and got to the line 21 times to CHI's 31. ATL turned it over 15 times to CHI's 8, and CHI turned those into 10 steals. Bogdanović led with 22 (8 of 21, 3 of 12 from three); Young added 21, Murray 17. Q2 was theirs, 39-22, turning a 11-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 96-74 against them. They led by as many as 12. Johnson's -9 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 vs SAC 110-117 — ATL notes
ATL lost 110-117. ATL shot 39% (37 of 94) to SAC's 52%, 15 of 43 from three, and went to the line 25 times to SAC's 15 — 21 points from the stripe to their 8. The glass went 51-38 for them. Young led with 24 (7 of 18, 3 of 10 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Murray added 18, Johnson 16. Q1 was theirs, 36-23, but the other 3 periods went 94-74 against them. They led by as many as 23. Bogdanović's -14 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 @ WAS 130-126 — ATL notes
ATL won 130-126. ATL shot 49% (47 of 95) to WAS's 47%, 12 of 32 from three, and went to the line 37 times to WAS's 21 — 24 points from the stripe to their 17. The glass went 58-42 for them. Young led with 40 (11 of 19, 4 of 8 from three, 14 of 19 at the line); Murray added 32, Johnson 24. The hinge was Q2, 42-28: ATL came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 15. Bogdanović was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/03 vs OKC — 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 117 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Young at 29 and Murray at 23 a game. Without Hunter (5 straight), Krejčí (4 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 110, shooting 54 percent and 45 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 45 percent from three to Atlanta's 33 and the defense, OKC allowing 110 a night to Atlanta's 122. Call it OKC 120, Atlanta 118, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/05 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Haliburton at 27 and Turner at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Young at 28 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hunter (6 straight), Krejčí (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 40 percent from three to Atlanta's 33 and the defense, Indiana allowing 118 a night to Atlanta's 125. Call it Indiana 127, Atlanta 121.
1/07 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Banchero at 32 and F. Wagner at 22 a game. Without Fultz (27 straight), Ingles (11 straight), Isaac (7 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 29 free throws a game; Young at 24 and Murray at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Hunter (7 straight), Krejčí (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the arc, Orlando at 40 percent from three to Atlanta's 32 and the defense, Orlando allowing 120 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Orlando 123, Atlanta 118.
1/10 vs PHI — 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 121 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Young at 26 and Murray at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Hunter (8 straight), Krejčí (7 straight). 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 28 from three, 26 free throws a game; Maxey at 27 and Oubre Jr. at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Melton (3 straight), Covington (3 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-7 a night and Philadelphia minus-12 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 115 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Atlanta 119, Philadelphia 118, Philadelphia keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ATLBB B. Bogdanović
BF B. Fernando
BO Bogdanovic
CC C. Capela
DM D. Murray
GM G. Mathews
JJ J. Johnson
PM P. Mills
SB S. Bey
TY T. Young
WASBC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
DA D. Avdija
DG D. Gafford
DW D. Wright
JP J. Poole
KK K. Kuzma
LS L. Shamet
MM M. Muscala
TJ T. Jones
ATL/WAS 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
Trae Young has 40 points and 13 assists, Hawks outlast Wizards 130-126
WASHINGTON -- — Trae Young had 40 points and 13 assists, Dejounte Murray added 32 points and the Atlanta Hawks overcame a slow start and spotty late foul shooting to beat the Washington Wizards 130-126 on Sunday.
Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 24 points and had 13 rebounds on a day when four Hawks finished with double-doubles to help their team remain unbeaten against the Wizards this season.
Clint Capela had 11 points and 17 rebounds. Saddiq Bey had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“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."
Atlanta outrebounded Washington 58-42 and snapped a four-game slide. The game narrowed late only because the Hawks shot poorly from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
“I missed five free throws tonight, which is crazy,” said Young, who finished 14 of 19 from the line. “That allowed them to stay in the game.”
Kyle Kuzma scored 38 points and hit seven 3-pointers for Washington, which was trying to secure its first consecutive wins of the season.
Four of Kuzma's 3s came in the first quarter as the Wizards sprinted to an early 17-4 lead only to give it back before the period ended.
He finished with 18 attempts from beyond the arc while the Wizards took 53 total, both of which were franchise records.
“Honestly, the vast majority of them were pretty good,” Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr. said of those shots. “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 had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who completed a four-game homestand with one victory.
The Hawks took the lead for good in the second quarter and closed the first half on an 18-6 run.
Washington briefly got within two in the third before Murray scored 10 points to help Atlanta answer with a 15-3 sequence. His last basket, a 3-pointer off Young's 11th assist, stretched it to 98-84 with 1:32 left in the third.
The lead was 123-108 after Young hit a 3 with 2:16 remaining. From there Atlanta made only 7 of 14 foul shots, which combined with quick Washington baskets to make for some late nervy moments.
“The end of the game became a little bit of an adventure,” said Atlanta coach Quin Snyder. “But I don't want that to detract from the things that we did for the majority of the game.”