Dejounte Murray scored a game-high 34 points, helping lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 122-113 win over the visiting Houston Rockets on Saturday.
Saddiq Bey added 24 points for Atlanta, which won its second straight game and its sixth in its last eight. Jalen Johnson scored 21 points, Trae Young had 18 points and eight assists and Onyeka Okongwu collected 11 points and seven rebounds.
Jalen Green’s triple-double (26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds) led Houston, which dropped its fourth straight. Jeff Green scored 19 points, followed by Aaron Holiday’s 18 off the bench. Dillon Brooks added 14 while Amen Thompson tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Holding an eight-point halftime advantage, the Hawks saw their lead grow to 15 thanks to a 7-0 spurt to begin the second half. Houston responded with a 16-7 run, trimming its deficit to 71-65 on Jeff Green’s and-one with 6:42 remaining in the third.
Atlanta increased its lead with back-to-back triples, first from Murray and then from rookie Kobe Bufkin.
With 33 seconds left in the third, Johnson’s free throws gave Atlanta a 95-81 lead, before Holiday was fouled on a driving dunk and made the free throw.
In the fourth, Young’s three-point play gave Atlanta a 98-86 lead but was answered with six straight Houston points, capped with Holiday’s mid-range jumper with 9:16 left.
The Hawks built their lead back up to 13, as Young’s free throws provided a 111-98 lead with 4:49 left. A 9-0 Houston run ensued, stamped with Brooks’ 3-pointer at the 3:20 mark.
Atlanta looked to have the win sealed after Bey’s fourth three-pointer of the game gave the Hawks a 118-109 lead with 1:59 left. Four straight points from Jalen Green cut the Houston deficit to five with 1:09 remaining, but that was as close as Houston would get.
Murray made two free throws and Bey capped the game with a dunk.
Atlanta’s victory knotted the all-time series at 82 wins apiece.
–Field Level Media