Trae Young delivered a stunning performance for the Atlanta Hawks as he sank a half-court 3-pointer at the buzzer to secure a thrilling 124-121 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday in Salt Lake City. The game was an intense back-and-forth battle, culminating in Young’s dramatic game-winning shot.
The tense final moments saw the Jazz tying the game at 121 apiece with just four seconds remaining, thanks to a clutch 24-foot three-pointer by Collin Sexton. With no timeouts left, the pressure was on the Hawks as they inbounded the ball to Young, who calmly launched the long-range bomb from midcourt. The shot swished through the net, prompting a review that confirmed Young’s shot as good, sealing the victory for the Hawks in dramatic fashion.
Young showcased his exceptional talent throughout the game, finishing with 24 points, including 10 crucial points in the fourth quarter, and an impressive 20 assists. His stellar performance was instrumental in snapping the Hawks’ three-game losing streak. Additionally, Clint Capela made significant contributions with 18 points, six rebounds, and three blocks, while De’Andre Hunter added 17 points to the Hawks’ winning effort.
On the opposing side, the Jazz were led by Lauri Markkanen, who equaled his season-high with 35 points. Sexton chipped in with 24 points, and Walker Kessler had a notable performance with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Despite their strong individual showings, the Jazz struggled to secure a win at home, dropping to a 2-13 record for the season.
The game started with Atlanta quickly establishing a 31-17 lead before the Jazz mounted a comeback fueled by sharpshooting from beyond the arc. Markkanen and Patty Mills knocked down crucial three-pointers to narrow the gap, trailing the Hawks 36-32 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Hawks surged ahead with a 12-0 run, building a substantial 16-point lead. However, Markkanen caught fire, pouring in 15 points in the quarter to help the Jazz trim the deficit to 65-62 at halftime.
The game remained tightly contested in the fourth quarter, with Kessler single-handedly keeping the Jazz in the hunt by scoring 10 consecutive points. His efforts, including a timely tip-in with 1:33 left, brought the Jazz within striking distance at 119-118. Young stepped up in the clutch, sinking two crucial free throws to extend the Hawks’ lead to three points with just 8.8 seconds remaining.
Notably, the Hawks were without Jalen Johnson, their second-leading scorer, who was sidelined due to right shoulder inflammation for the second consecutive game. On the other side, the Jazz were missing key players like John Collins, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabaugh, who were absent due to personal reasons and injuries,
