Dejounte Murray hit two decisive free throws with 1.3 seconds left, Trae Younger had 37 factors and 13 assists, and the Atlanta Hawks held off the Orlando Magic 126-125 Monday evening to snap their six-game profitable streak.
Orlando went on a 12-0 run over 2:17 late within the fourth quarter to wipe out a 13-point deficit and take a 125-124 lead on Markelle Fultz’s layup with 3.8 seconds remaining. Younger inbounded from the sideline, and Murray drew a foul from Paolo Banchero. Murray hit each free throws, and Banchero missed a 3-pointer on the buzzer.
“Like I used to be preaching after the sport, we’ve acquired to develop up, beginning with me,” Murray said. “Simply what we’re taking part in for, these kind of video games present we’re not taking part in to win and get to the playoffs and attempt to make noise. We’ve acquired to cease being snug. We nearly misplaced the sport.”
The Magic had been making an attempt for his or her first seven-game profitable streak since January 2011. Earlier than the surge, Orlando had misplaced 9 in a row and 11 of 12.
“The outcomes do matter, however the course of is far more, so I feel we’re a bit of inspired with that fourth quarter, with the combat that we confirmed, and that’s type of the mentality we have to have,” Moritz Wagner mentioned. “If you happen to’re group, you come again from losses, too, and you retain preventing it doesn’t matter what occurs, so I feel that’s what the temper is.”
Atlanta welcomed again Murray and John Collins from accidents as each had been game-time selections with left ankle sprains. Collins, who completed with 12 factors, missed the final eight video games and Murray, who had 17, the previous 5.
With heart Clint Caplea nonetheless sidelined by a proper calf pressure, Hawks coach Nate McMillan used a smaller beginning lineup with Collins at heart, De’Andre Hunter at ahead and three guards: Younger, Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Younger scored 17 points within the third because the Hawks opened a 104-94 lead within the closing seconds of the interval.
Murray hit a straightaway 3 with 7:30 remaining to make it 114-102, however Orlando stored chipping away and pulled inside one on Fultz’s layup with 28.8 seconds left. Younger missed an ungainly runner with 8.7 seconds to go, and the Magic grabbed the rebound and referred to as a timeout.
Fultz, who led the Magic with 24 factors, then acquired to the rim simply — too simply for Hawks coach Nate McMillan.
“We’ll take the win, after all,” he mentioned, “however we all know we’ve acquired to be higher and we’ve acquired to complete higher with the intention to proceed to win ballgames.”
Younger knocked down a 34-foot straightaway 3 to place the Hawks up 124-112 with 3:03 to play, however it wasn’t sufficient to place Orlando away.
“I knew we had been going to get beauty tonight and being at residence we had been in a position to make extra photographs,” Younger mentioned. “We acquired some actually beauty.”
Atlanta constructed an 11-point lead within the second quarter, however the Magic went on a 13-3 run and trailed 68-65 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Magic: Franz Wagner completed with 19 factors. His brother Moritz had 16 and Banchero scored 19. … Terrence Ross and Mo Bamba mixed for 25 factors off the bench. … Orlando outscored the Hawks 20-19 on fast-break factors. … The Magic outrebounded Atlanta 45-41.
Hawks: AJ Griffin completed with 19 factors off the bench. … Atlanta outscored Orlando 62-48 within the paint. … Younger went 12 for 12 on free throws. … Younger picked up a technical foul with 3:03 remaining for complaining to an official about contact from Moritz Wagner on his 34-footer. … McMillan efficiently challenged a foul name on Onyeka Okongwu with 2:54 remaining.
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