Trae Young scored 35 points, his 14th game with 30-plus points this season, and led the visiting Atlanta Hawks to a 125-111 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
The Hawks have won two straight and three of their last four, and divided the season series with Washington at 2-2. The Wizards have lost two straight following their season-long three-game winning streak.
Young was 13-for-26 from the floor and 5-for-14 on 3-pointers. He added 14 assists for his 31st double-double of the season.
Zaccharie Risacher added 18 points, and Georges Niang made his Atlanta debut and scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, with six assists.
Washington got 23 points and seven assists from Bub Carrington and 21 points and six assists from Jordan Poole.
Atlanta led 106-85 when Washington went on a 19-6 run. Poole’s basket cut the lead to 112-104 with 7:10 left, but the Wizards never got closer than seven.
There were four lead changes and two ties in the first quarter, with Atlanta carrying a 30-26 lead into the second quarter. The game was tied 56-56 with 1:18 left, but the Hawks outscored the Wizards 7-2 to take a 63-58 lead into the break. Young scored 23 points in the half.
The Hawks grabbed the momentum in the third quarter when Niang connected on four straight 3-point attempts for a 78-64 lead with 8:40 to play. Atlanta padded the lead to 104-83 going into the fourth quarter.
The Hawks played without Clint Capela (personal reasons), and the team reportedly requested waivers on Bones Hyland, who was just acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Wizards were without deadline acquisitions Colby Jones, Alex Len, Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart, as well as Alex Sarr (left ankle sprain) and Anthony Gill (right ankle sprain).
Atlanta plays the second leg of its three-game road trip on Monday at Orlando. The Wizards play the third game of their five-game homestand on Monday against San Antonio.
–Field Level Media
