The Atlanta Hawks (35-35) got back to .500 thanks in large part to a brilliant performance from Delon Wright in their 120-105 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the current two-seed in the Western Conference. They got the big win, their seventh straight win at home and ninth in the last 10 tries, with Trae Young sidelined by a thigh contusion.
Young joined John Collins who has tried battling through finger and foot injuries but has been shut down for the next few weeks at least.
They jumped out on the Grizzlies even with their superstar point guard on the shelf never trailing by more than two points, and never trailing again after taking a 5-4 lead less than three minutes into the first quarter.
It was all started by the tone Wright set.
Delon Wright put on a two-way show in the Atlanta Hawks big win over the Memphis Grizzlies
Starting in place of the inured Young, Wright finished the night with 18 points, six assists, three rebounds, and one block. He shot 63.6 percent from the floor and knocked down 4-of-6 threes en route to his best game in a Hawks uniform. It wasn’t his points that stood out, though, they were his second-most of the season.
His active hands led to a season-high five steals, just one off of his career-best set last season. That includes forcing two of Ja Morant’s six turnovers and getting another on a pass to the Grizzlies guard.
The Hawks moved to 3-3 with Wright in the starting lineup and 3-3 without Young. They are also now .500 without John Collins this season at 8-8.
Delon has 11 points and 4 steals at halftime.@DelonWright | @laurenjbara pic.twitter.com/xBgqjpGR22
— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) March 19, 2022
It was just a week ago that Wright was removed from the rotation.
As Nate McMillan reiterated after this win, though, it wasn’t due to his play. Wright had earned playing time with what he has done throughout the season. He was back in the rotation due to injuries just a few days after the move.
The seven-year vet gave a solid all-around performance in the Hawks 122-113 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. But he controlled the pace in this one from the outset never letting the Grizzlies get going in the first half. They were shooting 42.5 percent from the floor and had hit just 4-of-11 triples.
The Hawks have now swept the Grizzlies and sit ninth in the East by virtue of a better record against division opponents than the Charlotte Hornets whom they just lost to.
This was Wright’s second career game with at least 15 points, five assists, and five steals. It was also the second time this season a Hawks player has recorded five steals in a game matching Clint Capela’s effort earlier in the season.
Morant has exited early both times these teams have met. But the fact of the matter is he was not able to turn the tides throughout much of this one anyway thanks to an inspired Hawks effort led by Wright’s example.