Trae Young starts strong, scores 36 points as Hawks beat Wembanyama-led Spurs, 109-99
ATLANTA (AP) Trae Young sank his first six 3-point attempts to spark Atlanta's hot-shooting start and the Hawks overcame Victor Wembanyama's big second half to beat the San Antonio Spurs 109-99 on Monday.
Young scored 36 points, passing 10,000 for his career, with 13 assists.
The Hawks had to survive a late scare after holding a big lead of 35 points, After making 10 of 14 shots from the field in the first half, Young made only 1 of 10 after halftime, helping the Spurs close to within six points, 99-93.
“I think obviously we did a good job in the first half, the attention to detail and the focus we had was huge for us,” Young said. “In the second half, I just think we got too relaxed.”
Wembanyama, San Antonio’s 7-foot-3 rookie, sparked the comeback attempt. Wembanyama had nine dunks while scoring 26 points - all in the second half - with 13 rebounds.
Wembanyama gained momentum in his return after sitting out the second game of a back-to-back in a 122-116 loss to Chicago on Saturday. The Spurs have handled the No. 1 pick with caution after he suffered a sprained ankle on Dec. 23 in Dallas.
“Our team has learned they need to throw the passes,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich of Wembanyama's ability to score near the basket. The rookie scored 18 points while making 8 of 10 shots from the field in the final quarter. The Spurs outscored the Hawks 33-22 in the period.
“Thankfully we had as big a lead as we did and were able to hang on,” Young said.
Dejounte Murray, the former Spurs guard who has been discussed in trade deadline speculation, had 13 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.
The Hawks opened the second period with 11 unanswered points to lead 46-16. Atlanta extended the lead to 35 points, 69-34, at halftime.
Jeremy Sochan had 23 points for the Spurs. Julian Champagnie sank five 3-pointers and scored 15 points.
Young scored 29 points in the first half and then did not score in the third period until his first of two free throws with 53.8 seconds remaining gave him 10,000 career points.
When asked if he was thinking about the milestone, Young said, “It was not on my mind at all. I was just trying to go out there and win and put on a show.”
Jalen Johnson scored 16 points with 10 rebounds and six steals for Atlanta.
Each coach spoke of the significance of playing on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in King's hometown.
“To be able to play on this day is an incredible honor to be able to celebrate Dr. King,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder, who said, “obviously the significance of this day in this city is something really good and really good to be part of.”
Popovich said the holiday is “even more meaningful and appropriate because of the lack of leadership we seem to have in the world right now.”
Players for each team wore “Honor King” shirts during warmups.
UP NEXT
Spurts: At Boston on Wednesday.
Hawks: Host Orlando on Wednesday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Victor Wembanyama vs. Clint Capela (Jalen Johnson gains possession) | ||
| 11:44 | | Trae Young misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:41 | | Clint Capela offensive rebound | ||
| 11:34 | | Saddiq Bey misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:31 | | Clint Capela offensive rebound | ||
| 11:21 | | Jalen Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Victor Wembanyama steals) | ||
| 11:07 |  | Victor Wembanyama misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:04 | | Dejounte Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 10:54 | | +2 | Dejounte Murray makes two point stepback jump shot (Jalen Johnson assists) | 0-2 |
| 10:34 | | Dejounte Murray blocks Devin Vassell's two point floating jump shot | ||
| 10:33 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 10:30 | | Tre Jones turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Johnson steals) | ||
| 10:21 | | +2 | Jalen Johnson makes two point cutting layup (Trae Young assists) | 0-4 |
| 10:10 | | Tre Jones misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:04 | | Clint Capela defensive rebound | ||
| 9:59 | | Dejounte Murray misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 9:57 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 9:50 | | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:47 | | Dejounte Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 9:43 | | +2 | Dejounte Murray makes two point running layup | 0-6 |
| 9:33 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (traveling) | ||
| 9:20 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Trae Young's two point floating jump shot | ||
| 9:15 | | Saddiq Bey offensive rebound | ||
| 9:14 | | +3 | Jalen Johnson makes three point jump shot (Saddiq Bey assists) | 0-9 |
| 9:14 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:55 | | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:53 | | Hawks defensive rebound | ||
| 8:37 | | +2 | Clint Capela makes two point dunk (Jalen Johnson assists) | 0-11 |
| 8:30 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point dunk (Devin Vassell assists) | 2-11 |
| 8:10 | | +3 | Trae Young makes three point pullup jump shot (Jalen Johnson assists) | 2-14 |
| 7:52 | | +3 | Jeremy Sochan makes three point jump shot (Julian Champagnie assists) | 5-14 |
| 7:37 | | +2 | Dejounte Murray makes two point driving finger roll layup (Trae Young assists) | 5-16 |
| 7:30 | | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:26 | | Clint Capela defensive rebound | ||
| 7:12 | | Devin Vassell blocks Dejounte Murray's two point driving layup | ||
| 7:09 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | Tre Jones misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 7:03 | | Clint Capela defensive rebound | ||
| 6:52 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:52 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Jalen Johnson's two point driving layup | ||
| 6:52 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 6:48 | | Jump ball. Victor Wembanyama vs. Clint Capela (Jeremy Sochan gains possession) | ||
| 6:44 | | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:39 | | Trent Forrest defensive rebound | ||
| 6:30 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Clint Capela's two point dunk | ||
| 6:29 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 6:29 | | Trent Forrest personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 6:15 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 7-16 |
| 5:56 | | Saddiq Bey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:54 | | Dominick Barlow defensive rebound | ||
| 5:40 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point turnaround jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 9-16 |
| 5:17 | | Dejounte Murray misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:14 | | Dominick Barlow defensive rebound | ||
| 5:10 | | Devin Vassell misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 5:08 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | Dejounte Murray personal foul (Loose ball) (Jeremy Sochan draws the foul) | ||
| 5:08 | | Spurs delay of game violation | ||
| 4:57 | | Devin Vassell misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 4:53 | | Dejounte Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 4:46 | | Dejounte Murray misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:42 | | Onyeka Okongwu offensive rebound | ||
| 4:42 | | +2 | Onyeka Okongwu makes two point putback layup | 9-18 |
| 4:34 | | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:30 | | Dejounte Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 4:19 | | Saddiq Bey misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:16 | | Trent Forrest offensive rebound | ||
| 4:16 | | Trent Forrest misses two point tip layup | ||
| 4:15 | | Dominick Barlow defensive rebound | ||
| 4:07 | | Trent Forrest shooting foul (Dominick Barlow draws the foul) | ||
| 4:07 | | +1 | Dominick Barlow makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-18 |
| 4:07 | | Dominick Barlow misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 4:05 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:56 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:53 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 3:38 | | Cedi Osman misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:35 | | Jalen Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 3:27 | | +3 | Garrison Mathews makes three point jump shot (Jalen Johnson assists) | 10-21 |
| 3:17 | | Jeremy Sochan offensive foul (Off the ball) (Garrison Mathews draws the foul) | ||
| 3:17 | | Jeremy Sochan turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 3:06 | | +3 | Trae Young makes three point pullup jump shot | 10-24 |
| 2:47 | | +3 | Cedi Osman makes three point jump shot (Blake Wesley assists) | 13-24 |
| 2:26 | | +2 | Onyeka Okongwu makes two point driving hook shot (Trae Young assists) | 13-26 |
| 2:15 | | Cedi Osman misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:12 | | Jalen Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:02 | | Onyeka Okongwu misses two point hook shot | ||
| 1:59 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 1:51 | | Keldon Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Johnson steals) | ||
| 1:48 | | +2 | Trae Young makes two point running layup (Jalen Johnson assists) | 13-28 |
| 1:30 | | Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:26 | | Onyeka Okongwu defensive rebound | ||
| 1:19 | | Dominick Barlow kicked ball violation | ||
| 1:14 | | +2 | Bogdan Bogdanovic makes two point driving reverse layup | 13-30 |
| 0:59 | | +2 | Dominick Barlow makes two point driving hook shot (Blake Wesley assists) | 15-30 |
| 0:46 | | +2 | Onyeka Okongwu makes two point layup (Trae Young assists) | 15-32 |
| 0:46 | | Cedi Osman shooting foul (Onyeka Okongwu draws the foul) | ||
| 0:46 | | +1 | Onyeka Okongwu makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 15-33 |
| 0:39 | | Onyeka Okongwu shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 0:39 | | Keldon Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 0:39 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 0:39 | | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-33 |
| 0:31 | | Trae Young misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:28 | | Dominick Barlow defensive rebound | ||
| 0:09 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 0:05 | | Onyeka Okongwu defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | +2 | Trae Young makes two point driving layup | 16-35 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:40 | | Tre Jones misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:37 | | Onyeka Okongwu defensive rebound | ||
| 11:22 | | Jalen Johnson misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 11:20 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 11:10 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 11:07 | | Jalen Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:56 | | +3 | Trae Young makes three point stepback jump shot (Jalen Johnson assists) | 16-38 |
| 10:45 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 10:41 | | Trae Young defensive rebound | ||
| 10:34 | | +2 | Jalen Johnson makes two point cutting dunk (Trae Young assists) | 16-40 |
| 10:15 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:12 | | Jalen Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:05 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic turnover (traveling) | ||
| 9:54 | | Keldon Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Bogdan Bogdanovic steals) | ||
| 9:50 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 9:47 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 9:41 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 9:35 | | Jalen Johnson personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 9:25 | | Tre Jones misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 9:20 | | Devin Vassell offensive rebound | ||
| 9:20 | | Devin Vassell misses two point tip dunk | ||
| 9:19 | | Trae Young defensive rebound | ||
| 9:15 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 9:14 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 9:06 | | Doug McDermott misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:03 | | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | ||
| 8:58 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:55 | | Jalen Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:47 | | +3 | Trae Young makes three point pullup jump shot | 16-43 |
| 8:33 | | Tre Jones turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Johnson steals) | ||
| 8:29 | | Jalen Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Tre Jones steals) | ||
| 8:17 | | Jeremy Sochan turnover (lost ball) (Trae Young steals) | ||
| 8:04 | | +3 | Trae Young makes three point pullup jump shot | 16-46 |
| 8:01 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:50 | | Jeremy Sochan turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 7:33 | | Jeremy Sochan blocks Onyeka Okongwu's two point cutting dunk | ||
| 7:29 | | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | ||
| 7:29 | | Bogdan Bogdanovic shooting foul (Jeremy Sochan draws the foul) | ||
| 7:29 | | +1 | Jeremy Sochan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-46 |
| 7:29 | | +1 | Jeremy Sochan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-46 |
| 7:16 | | Onyeka Okongwu turnover (lost ball) (Victor Wembanyama steals) | ||
| 7:09 | | Devin Vassell misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:07 | | Dejounte Murray defensive rebound | ||
| 6:57 | | +3 | Trent Forrest makes three point jump shot (Onyeka Okongwu assists) | 18-49 |
| 6:41 |