Atlanta Hawks snap skid, move to 4-1 at home with win over champs

A four-game road trip only served to exacerbate the Atlanta Hawks situation as they had lost six of their last nine games entering play on Sunday evening. Their first home game in two weeks would offer them the opportunity to snap their six-game skid and get a bit of revenge against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference Finals.

There is no shame in losing to the eventual champs. But there will always be the feeling among a large contingent of Hawks fans that will feel like if both teams were healthy the Hawks would take the series in a do-over.

Unfortunately, they have to wait to find out not only for the postseason but also because forward De’Andre Hunter would sit out with wrist soreness.

Fortunately, Trae Young is really good at basketball and took it upon himself to lead them to a 120-100 win.

Trae Young’s 42 points power Atlanta Hawks to skid-snapping win at home

Young had 15 points and was 5-of-6 from three-point range in the first quarter as he took heed to recent talk from him and Nate McMillan of starting games faster. He followed that with 12 points on 57.1 percent shooting in the second; including another 2-of-4 from deep.

It was his best first half of the season, edging out his 22-point showing against the Detroit Pistons.

He was just getting started.

After a rather quiet third quarter that saw him score just four points on 2-of-5 shooting, he finished equally as strong with 11 points in the fourth.

Young, who was averaging 5.1 points in the fourth quarter on 41 percent shooting coming in, shot 71.4 percent in the frame to go with three of his 10 assists. He also had eight rebounds as he fell just short of his first triple-double of the season. His eight threes tied a career-high.

After the game, McMillan spoke on Young taking charge early in the contest to set the tone.

"“It was good to see that ball go in for us, and he came out very aggressive. He felt a rhythm, and just stayed with it.” – via Sarah K. Spencer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution"

He wasn’t alone in the game as John Collins scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, including seven points and four of his six boards in the fourth quarter.

Clint Capela had a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double. Kevin Huerter had 11 points as a fill-in starter for Hunter and Danilo Gallinari added 10 points off of the bench. The Hawks shot 48.5 percent overall and 42.9 percent from three as a team while holding the Bucks to 45.2 percent from the floor and 34.1 from outside.

It’s their second time scoring 120 points or more this season.

They won’t get much time to enjoy the much-needed win that takes their record to 5-9 and 4-1 at State Farm Arena. They’ll host an Orlando Magic team that has lost two straight contests, four of its last five games, and that has just three wins all season.