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The Atlanta Hawks (12-17) have entered that game with the Denver Nuggets looking to change course and head into mid-season of the season on a revival, having lost five of their last six games and eight of their last ten games. The Nuggets have also looked for consistent results to place them among the elite in the Western Conference, sitting 16-13 and winning four of their last six.
The Hawks continued to be deprived of the services of De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn due to long-term injuries. The visiting Nuggets came in tonight not in full health either, missing Paul Millsap, Gary Harris and JaMychal Green among others.
Nate McMillan has continued to coach the team in an interim role while Lloyd Pierce handles the birth of his second child with his wife.
The home team started off cold, missing five of their first six shots. Meanwhile, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray – after a historic 50-point attempt, without a free throw on Saturday night – helped Denver clear their way to the rim at will, propelling the Nuggets to a 12-7 lead. on 5 shots out of 7. at the first timeout.
Porter Jr. in particular cooked in the first quarter to the tune of 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shot before leaving for the bench after landing two fouls. The Hawks fled points, allowing the Nuggets to score 33 of 13 for 20 (68.4%) from the floor and 4 of 7 (57.1%) of three.
Trae Young recorded a savvy flight and helped prepare Kevin Huerter for an early triple, see below.
The No. 6 overall pick Onyeka Okongwu came to life in the first half, moving to the basket. This, combined with impressive defensive play, was a godsend for the home side in the first half.
Atlanta completely erased a nine-point lead early to lead 37-33 at one point in the second quarter behind hot shots from unlikely source Tony Snell, who started 3-for-3 behind the arc.
That improvement in role contributors’ play, along with better defensive pressure and better rim protection, helped cool the Nuggets in the second quarter. 2021 All-Star starter Nikola Jokic was not a factor in the first half, scoring just six minutes in the second quarter and winning three turnovers for a single assist.
Young took advantage of a nonchalant transition defense time and time again to show his float and long passes to dunkers running on the ground, like this one to John Collins, prompting him to go a bit off the bench after falling hard from his side.
Atlanta took a 64-56 halftime lead behind Young’s 11 points and 8 assists, although the young guard was hit with a technical foul as he made his way down the tunnel to chew with a official. As a team, the Hawks shot 15 of 22 (68.2%) from the field and 4 of 8 (50%) of three in the second quarter for a dazzling 77.2% eFG.
Young picked up where he left off in the third quarter, scoring or assisting on the first eight field goals for a total of 19 points to push the lead to 17 – the biggest for either. team of the match at this point. And the Hawks didn’t stop from there, as Young continued to rack up deep points, totaling 14 points and five assists in the third quarter alone.
Clint Capela continued to be effective in finishing lobs, scoring 16 of 7 of 8 in shooting during the three quarters. With the Nuggets still struggling to find the basket, the Hawks took a 93-76 lead in the fourth quarter after finishing with a 22-point lead at one point.
Murray and Monte Morris wouldn’t let the Nuggets down without a fight, however, and with four field goals and 10 points in the span of two minutes, coach McMillan was forced to call a time out to rally the troops. with the advance reduced to 13.
Still, Atlanta clawed and clawed and kept Denver at arm’s length with a few clutch stoppages. The Nuggets were unable to buy a basket in the fourth quarter from 8:19 minutes until 3:51 – a span of around four and a half minutes that seriously hampered any hopes of returning to the game.
Collins had a calm night but showed some ability to hit dribbling shots aimed at the basket.
For the second time in three games, an opponent deployed a Hack-a-Capela strategy throughout a game, but Capela responded by hitting his first two free throw attempts in this situation.
A trio of late trebles from Facundo Campazzo took the lead into the single-digit digits at one point, and a Jokic rainbow three cut the lead to 7 at the last minute, but it was too bit too late for the Nuggets the second night back to back.
Young nearly passed his season high of 16 assists with 15 actions and added 35 points on just 19 shots for 1.84 points per shot. As a team, the Hawks shared the ball well, helping 29 of 42 field goals (69%).
John Collins and Clint Capela both recorded a double-double, with another strong performance of 20 and 10 from center. The Hawks calmly drained their late free throws for the game ice – 26 of 32 (81.3%) from the charity strip – to win 123 to 115.
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