ATLANTA — On a day commemorating Martin Luther King Jr., Trae Young delivered an exceptional performance, scoring 36 points and dishing out 13 assists to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 109-99 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. This standout game also saw Young surpass the 10,000 career points milestone.
Young’s hot start, where he sank his first six 3-point attempts, set the tone for the Hawks. However, the team had to fend off a late surge by the Spurs, who narrowed a 35-point deficit to just six in the latter stages of the game. Young acknowledged the team’s initial focus but admitted to becoming too relaxed in the second half.
The Spurs’ comeback was fueled by the phenomenal play of their 7-foot-3 rookie, Victor Wembanyama, who scored all of his 26 points in the second half, including nine dunks and 13 rebounds. Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the draft, has been managed cautiously by the Spurs following a sprained ankle he suffered in December.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich praised Wembanyama’s scoring ability, particularly in the final quarter, where the rookie was instrumental in outscoring the Hawks 33-22. Despite the Spurs’ comeback attempt, Young and the Hawks managed to hold on for the win.
Dejounte Murray, a former Spurs guard now with the Hawks and amid trade deadline speculation, contributed 13 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.
The Hawks demonstrated their dominance early, leading by as much as 35 points at halftime. Jeremy Sochan scored 23 points for the Spurs, and Julian Champagnie added 15 points, including five 3-pointers.
Young, who scored 29 points in the first half, reached the 10,000-point mark with a free throw late in the third period. Reflecting on the milestone, Young emphasized his focus on winning and entertaining the fans.
Jalen Johnson also had a notable performance for Atlanta, scoring 16 points along with 10 rebounds and six steals.
Both coaches, Quin Snyder of the Hawks and Gregg Popovich of the Spurs, spoke about the honor and significance of playing on MLK Day, especially in King’s hometown of Atlanta. They highlighted the importance of the day and the privilege of being part of the celebration.
The players showed their respect by wearing “Honor King” shirts during warmups.
Looking Ahead:
The Spurs face a tough challenge next, traveling to Boston to play on Wednesday. The Hawks, meanwhile, will host the Orlando Magic on the same day, hoping to build on their victory.
