In a scintillating display of offensive prowess, Trae Young erupted for a season-high 43 points to propel the Atlanta Hawks to a thrilling 122-117 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. The electric point guard’s stellar performance snapped the Suns’ three-game winning streak and extended their winless drought in Atlanta to over a decade.
Despite the herculean efforts of Devin Booker, who poured in 35 points, and Kevin Durant’s 31-point, 9-rebound outing, the Suns couldn’t overcome Young’s sizzling shooting and the Hawks’ relentless energy. Atlanta’s win was all the more impressive considering they were missing key forwards De’Andre Hunter, Larry Nance Jr., and Jalen Johnson due to various ailments.
Young’s Stellar Night
Trae Young, who was listed as questionable prior to tip-off due to illness, showed no signs of being under the weather once he stepped on the court. The dynamic guard caught fire early and often, draining six 3-pointers and converting 11 of his 14 free throw attempts en route to his season-best scoring outburst.
When Trae is in that kind of rhythm, it’s tough for any team to stop us. He was unbelievable tonight.
– Hawks coach Quin Snyder
Young’s backcourt mate, Garrison Mathews, also made his presence felt, particularly in the first half. The duo combined for 8 of Atlanta’s 11 triples before halftime, staking the Hawks to a 64-56 lead at the break.
Suns’ Second Half Surge
Phoenix came out of the locker room with renewed purpose, as Kevin Durant caught fire in the third quarter. The former MVP scored 14 of his 31 points in the period, spearheading a 20-6 run that briefly gave the Suns the lead.
However, Atlanta quickly counter-punched, closing the quarter on a 14-3 spurt to take an 89-87 advantage into the final frame. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Dyson Daniels opened the fourth with back-to-back triples, providing the Hawks with a cushion they would not relinquish.
Okongwu’s Career Night
Lost in the glow of Young’s brilliance was a monster performance from Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu. The third-year big man scored 22 points and hauled in a career-high 21 rebounds, providing Atlanta with a formidable interior presence to counter the Suns’ potent attack.
- Key Stat: Okongwu’s 21 rebounds were the most by a Hawk since Clint Capela grabbed 23 in January 2021.
Looking Ahead
The Hawks (20-19) will look to build on this signature win as they head to Chicago to face the Bulls on Wednesday. Phoenix (19-20) aims to get back on track when they continue their five-game road trip in Washington on Thursday.
As the season nears its halfway point, both teams find themselves in the thick of the playoff race, jockeying for position in their respective conferences. If Tuesday’s high-stakes affair was any indication, a potential postseason meeting between these two squads would be must-see TV.
