The Atlanta Hawks hosted the Brooklyn Nets in the second game of a back-to-back Wednesday evening on the heels of a Tuesday night win over the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nets ultimately took home the overtime win, 132-128. The Hawks battled all night, but came up a bit short of the second night of a back-to-back.
Before the game, the Hawks honored Sekou Smith, who unexpectedly passed from COVID-19 on Tuesday. Smith covered the team for the AJC at one point, and was one of the more respected reporters in the business. He was beloved, and will be dearly missed.
A moment of silence in State Farm Arena for Sekou Smith. pic.twitter.com/A4Th4mlo7r
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) January 28, 2021
As far as the basketball goes, it was a face-paced affair to start, with the teams being tied at 11 just over four minutes into play.
The Hawks go mismatch hunting with Hunter.@SoutheastToyota // #TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/CLgGfNoQo9
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) January 28, 2021
The pace would slow a bit in the middle of the period, with the Hawks leading 27-26 heading to the second. Cam Reddish provided a spark off the bench early, scoring seven points off the bench in the first.
Cam back pic.twitter.com/1YevCpKUmz
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) January 28, 2021
The second quarter was evenly played as well, with the score being tied at 55 at half.
Yessssssir! pic.twitter.com/Y0rgEXgS5L
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 28, 2021
Hunter led the way for the Hawks with 15 first-half points, continuing to show immeasurable confidence.
De'Andre dices a double team. pic.twitter.com/bRRzYm2kTe
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) January 28, 2021
Reddish was also active in the scoring department at the break for Atlanta, tallying 14 points in the opening two quarters.
.@camreddish was a spark off the bench. He has 14 PTS and 5 REB at the half!
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 28, 2021
Presented by @Verizon pic.twitter.com/G9Yekj4C2e
James Harden led the way with 18 points at the break for Brooklyn.
Atlanta came out of the half firing, going on a 7-1 run to take a 62-56 lead.
Trae Young: Best in the NBA on hit-ahead passes? pic.twitter.com/eDNagjp6fq
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) January 28, 2021
The third was highly contested as well, with the Nets coming back to take a 77-76 lead with 4:15 remaining in the quarter. The pace picked up a bit with each team looking to take control.
Trae forever leaves defenders picking up dropped contact lenses. pic.twitter.com/r65l5uW9Ds
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) January 28, 2021
Young had ten points in the quarter, and Atlanta led 87-83 heading to the fourth.
The Nets went on a 7-0 run to tie the score earth in the fourth, and lead 99-95 with 7:55 to play.
GALLO pic.twitter.com/2cz1ztsTXg
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 28, 2021
It was back-and-forth affair from there, with the Hawks leading 111-108 with 3:23 to go after a score from Hunter.
The score was tied at 114 with 1:20 left in regulation as the Hawks walked the ball up the court, but they were unable to score. Harden found Jeff Green cutting for a layup on the ensuing possession to give Brooklyn a 116-114 lead with 56.3 seconds to go.
Reddish tied the score with under 30 seconds to go.
CLUTCH. CAM. pic.twitter.com/hf6pK1JlR5
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 28, 2021
Harden missed a step-back three as time nearly expired, with the Hawks getting a timeout with .3 seconds remaining, and the ball advanced. Atlanta was unable to score with such little time however, and the game went to overtime.
The Nets started overtime on a 4-0 with buckets from Kyrie Irving and Green. Young converted an and-one to cut it back to one-point game a few moments later after Reddish and Irving exchanged baskets.
Green hit a three to put the lead back to four however, then Kevin Durant scored to make it 127-121 with 2:46 to go.
From there, Atlanta got close but never all the way back.
Young led Atlanta scorers with 28 to go with 14 assists. Hunter had 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks while Collins had 21 points to go with eight rebounds and three assists. Reddish had 24 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Durant (32) and Harden (31) each had 30-point games for the Nets, with Irving adding 26 to go with seven assists and four rebounds. Harden also had 15 assists and eight rebounds.
The Hawks will be back in action from Washington vs. the Wizards on Friday evening.