SALT LAKE CITY — After imposing his will on offense for 4 quarters, Atlanta‘s Trae Young nonetheless had one play left in him with the ultimate seconds ticking off the clock.
Younger heaved a buzzer-beating 50-foot 3-pointer from simply behind the halfcourt line to present the Hawks a 124-121 victory over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night time. The dramatic shot capped a sport wherein Younger had 24 factors and 20 assists whereas committing solely two turnovers.
His game-winner adopted of a tying 3-pointer by Utah’s Collin Sexton with 4 seconds left.
“When there’s time left, I at all times really feel like we will rating,” mentioned Younger, who’s the primary participant with 20 assists and a game-winning buzzer-beater in the identical sport in NBA historical past, based on ESPN Analysis.
Younger, the Hawks’ franchise chief in assists and made 3-pointers, placed on a clinic on the right way to management a sport. He dished out seven assists earlier than scoring his first basket within the second quarter. Behind his positive hand, Atlanta constructed a 16-point first-half lead earlier than Utah rallied and compelled a decent end.
“That is a part of what I do,” Younger mentioned. “I at all times get guys concerned, at all times been capable of finding individuals. I really feel like I am the sort of man who can move you open. You do not simply must be open for me to get you the ball. I can see issues and get you into a great place.”
Younger’s winner was the spotlight of a sequence of massive performs he made down the stretch.
After the Jazz took a 114-113 lead on the second of back-to-back dunks by Walker Kessler, Younger scored a step-back 3-pointer to reclaim the lead after which fed De’Andre Hunter for one more go-ahead 3 a minute later. Then, Younger hit a pair of free throws with 8.8 seconds left.
“He has taken a variety of delight in being environment friendly and realizing when it’s time to give the ball up and when it is time to impress himself on the sport from a scoring standpoint,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder mentioned.
Younger wanted solely a few dribbles and a halfcourt heave to make that impression an enduring one. He felt assured the shot could be proper on the right track from the second he took the inbounds move and as much as when he launched the ball.
“I knew we had three seconds,” Younger mentioned. “I may take a few dribbles and be nearer to halfcourt after which I made positive I used my legs and put some air into the ball and that was essential.”
The Related Press contributed to this story.
