Recapping and handing out player grades for the Atlanta Hawks’ match up with the Denver Nuggets.
The Atlanta Hawks took on the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, fighting hard but eventually losing 123-115.
It was the third straight game wherein the Hawks hung tough with a talented opponent, first the Celtics, then the Pacers, and now tonight with the Nuggets.
The Hawks hanging around with better teams was a trend for most of last year, but not one that carried into the start of this season. Now, it’s looking like it’s starting back up, as while they’re going through a tough part of the schedule, their playing some of their best ball on the season.
The Denver lead never grew above ten.
Nikola Jokic was way too much for Atlanta to handle on the night, playing like the MVP candidate he was last season with 47 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
The guard combo of Trae Young and Kevin Huerter led the Hawks in scoring with 29 and 21, respectively, both making 8 of 12 shots.
Trae stayed adding to his long highlight reel of plays this season, both making one of his famed “foot on the line threes” and performing a seamless between-the-legs to finger-roll transition hoop.
Trae Young fakes the behind-the-back pass and goes through his own legs while his opponents search for ghosts. pic.twitter.com/8JVPEB7BI8
— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) January 7, 2020
As a team the Hawks shot 46.1% from the field, but made 27 free throws (on 32 attempts), which ties their highest count on the season.
The Nuggets turned the ball over just 4 times compared to Atlanta’s 10, 7 of which were at the fault of Trae Young.
The Hawks fall to 8-29, once again failing to win back-to-back games since the first two on the year.
Player grades are up next: