NBA: Hawks’ biggest win of season is Suns’ largest loss
FILE – Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after being charged with a foul against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on December 23, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP
Dejounte Murray recorded 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks never trailed while drubbing the host Phoenix Suns 132-100 on Wednesday night.
Trae Young added 20 points and 12 assists in his return from a one-game absence caused by an ankle injury. Bogdan Bogdanovic had 18 points, Onyeka Okongwu added 17 and De’Andre Hunter tallied 15 for Atlanta.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Hawks led by as many as 43 while winning for just the second time in the past six games. Atlanta shot 57.6 percent from 3-point range while draining a season-high 19 3-pointers (in 33 attempts). The Hawks hit 57.1 percent from the floor overall while registering their largest winning margin of the season.
It's a 15-0 run for the Hawks on ESPN 👀 pic.twitter.com/UgeTGHpiqk
— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2023
Mikal Bridges had 23 points and seven assists for the Suns, topping 20 points for the ninth time in the past 12 games. Deandre Ayton contributed 20 points and nine rebounds as Phoenix lost for just the second time in the past eight games.
Article continues after this advertisementThe margin of defeat was Phoenix’s worst of the season.
The Suns dropped to 9-15 without Devin Booker, who has missed 19 straight games and 22 of the past 23 due to a groin injury.
The Suns made just 4 of 28 (14.3 percent) from behind the arc while shooting 40.7 percent overall. Dario Saric scored 11 points and Damion Lee added 10 while Chris Paul scored just three on 1-of-6 shooting.
Atlanta led 18-8 before the midway point of the opening quarter, but the Suns battled back to trail 26-23 at the end of the period.
The Hawks seized control in the second quarter with a 22-3 burst, including 15 straight points to end it, to build the lead to 22. Atlanta’s lead was 66-47 at the break, with Murray’s 15 points leading the way. Bridges had 17 and Ayton scored 15 in the half for the Suns.
The onslaught continued in the third quarter and the Hawks pushed the lead over 30 when John Collins scored on a layup to make it 87-56 with 6:05 left.
Atlanta held a 102-67 advantage entering the final stanza and pushed the lead past 40 when Okongwu drained a trey to make it 118-77 with 7:17 remaining. Aaron Holiday hit a jumper 28 seconds later to increase the margin to 43 for the first time.
