AP

Murray’s 29 help Hawks finish strong, beat Knicks 139-124

Jan 20, 2023, 4:52 AM | Updated: 7:55 pm

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu shoots over New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)

(AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks are gaining momentum in the Eastern Conference and their high-scoring guards are leading the way.

Dejounte Murray had 29 points and 12 assists, Trae Young added 27 points and the streaking Hawks pulled away at the start of the fourth quarter to beat the New York Knicks 139-124 on Friday night.

The Hawks (24-22), eighth in the Eastern Conference, extended their season-best winning streak to five games.

Julius Randle had 32 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks but was held scoreless in the final period.

Murray has scored 27 or more points in four consecutive games. Young had six assists and has averaged more than nine assists in the winning streak.

“We want to be the best for each other and the best for our teammates,” Murray said. “We’ve got to be consistent. We’ve got to continue to want the best for each other and continue to make our teammates better.”

Hawks coach Nate McMillan said Young “has done a nice job of really initiating the offense” and added that Murray has “been on fire” during the winning streak.

“We’ve been playing really good, just taking what the defense is giving us,” Young said. “… Guys are knocking down shots, just playing free basketball.”

Atlanta acquired Murray from San Antonio before the season, and the pairing of the two All-Star guards required an adjustment.

“They’re playing at a very high level right now,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “They’re sharing the ball and playing well together.”

De’Andre Hunter had 20 points and Okongwu scored 14 off the bench.

Atlanta led only 102-101 before opening the fourth quarter with a 20-4 run that was capped by back-to-back inside baskets by Onyeka Okongwu. The Hawks outscored the Knicks 37-23 in the period.

RJ Barrett scored 23 points for the seventh-place Knicks (25-22), who have a three-game losing streak.

Jericho Sims started at center in New York’s first game since losing Mitchell Robinson for at least three weeks. Robinson had surgery Thursday to repair his fractured right thumb suffered in Wednesday’s 116-105 loss to Washington.

Thibodeau was not happy with the Knicks’ defense.

“You give up 139, credit to them, they’re playing great basketball right now,” said Thibodeau of the Hawks. “But we’re not going to win a game like that. … We’re not playing great defense and we’ve got to get back to that.”

The Hawks had center Clint Capela return this week after missing 10 consecutive games with a calf injury. McMillan said the return to the starting lineup of Capela, whose playing time has been restricted in his three games back in uniform, was important to Atlanta’s defense.

Even with Capela on the court, the Knicks still drove to the basket with consistency while making 30 of 42 shots from the field (71.4%) in the first half.

The Knicks led 71-68 at halftime, with 38 points in the paint. Atlanta opened the second half with a 13-0 run, including nine points by Young.

A 3-pointer by Young gave the Hawks a big lead of 13 points at 87-74 before the Knicks cut the deficit to 102-101 entering the final period.

MISSING ROBINSON’S REBOUNDS

The 7-foot Robinson is averaging 7.2 points and 8.9 rebounds. Thibodeau said Robinson’s rebounds were missed as the Hawks took a 39-34 advantage on the boards.

“The rebounding was a problem right from the start and that was a concern,” Thibodeau said.

Sims had 12 points and eight rebounds while sharing time with Isaiah Hartenstein, who had two points and six rebounds.

Thibodeau said he “went back and forth” in deciding whether to start Sims or Hartenstein, who had been Robinson’s top backup. “Part of it was to keep some unity to the second unit,” Thibodeau said.

TIP-INS

Knicks: Randle had three 3-pointers in the strong finish to the third period. Overall, New York made 13 of 30 3s, including 3 of 10 by Randle. …

Hawks: G Bogdan Bogdanovic (right knee soreness) had 14 points off the bench with his knee wrapped after he was listed as questionable in the first of back-to-back games. “We knew that coming into the season that would be something we would have to monitor,” McMillan said. “We have to look at back-to-back situations.” …

UP NEXT

Knicks: At Toronto on Sunday.

Hawks: Host Charlotte on Saturday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Murray’s 29 help Hawks finish strong, beat Knicks 139-124