As the postseason approaches, the Atlanta Hawks made a statement Wednesday by blowing out the NBA’s top-seeded Phoenix Suns. Most impressively, the Hawks routed Phoenix with 7 players scoring in double figures – none above 18 points.
“We definitely needed to bring the energy and intensity for 48 minutes playing against the best team in the league,” said Danilo Gallinari, who dropped 16 for Atlanta. “It was a great challenge and I thought we did a great job.”
Calm before the storm
The first half was neck-and-neck, with a high-scoring first quarter that concluded with the Hawks ahead 42-38. Both teams shot the lights out in the first period. However, the scoring pace slowed down a bit in the second, with Phoenix outscoring the Hawks, 27-25, to close to within a bucket at the half.
In the second half, the Hawks began slowly separating themselves. They would take a 9-point lead into the final frame. Yet, it seemed they were only getting started. Atlanta scored the first 14 points of the fourth quarter before Phoenix finally scratched on a pair of Cameron Payne free throws. Nonetheless, the damage had been done as the Hawks remained comfortably in the lead at 111-88.
Phoenix was never able to recover, and the Hawks (37-20) rallied to a 135-103 blowout win over the Suns (47-19).
“This is the most important stretch for us to be playing high level basketball,” Booker said. “You have to put the excuses aside.”
Ready for the postseason
Gaining momentum at the perfect time, the win put Atlanta a game and a half ahead of Boston for the fifth seed in the East. However, a loss for Phoenix means they surrendered the top seed in the West to Utah.
Clint Capela led the Hawks with 18 points and 10 boards, while Trae Young added 16 to go with 12 dimes. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Lou Williams also put 16 points apiece on the board. Onyeka Okongwo and Kevin Huerter added 14 points and 13 points, respectively.
Only two players scored in double figures for Phoenix. All-star Devin Booker dropped 30 points with 5 assists, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points of his own.
“They’re deep,” Phoenix head coach Monte Williams said. “They look like a playoff team and they look like they’re getting in playoff shape. I don’t think many teams want to play them, especially when they get in the first round.”
Up Next
The Hawks will finish back-to-back at Indiana Thursday at 8:00 p.m. EST before closing the regular season with four consecutive home games. Phoenix returns home to play the New York Knicks Friday at 10:00 p.m. EST.
