Hawks rally from 26-point deficit to beat Mavericks
Kent Bazemore scored 32 points, including a thunderous slam with just over a minute to go, and the Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 26-point deficit in the first half to stun the Dallas Mavericks 111-104 on Wednesday night in Atlanta.
Former Norman North and Oklahoma star Trae Young added 17 points on a tough shooting night, bouncing back in the fourth quarter to help the youthful Hawks complete their comeback in a rookie showdown with Luca Doncic of the Mavericks.
Doncic finished with 21 points, but hit only 3 of 10 shots over the final two quarters. The Hawks made it a night to remember at newly rechristened State Farm Arena, which hosted its first game after a $192.5 million renovation that was largely completed over the last two offseasons.
“Thank you Atlanta,” Young told the fans after the game. “This is just the beginning.”
Coming off a 35-point, 11-assist performance in a victory at Cleveland, Young struggled with his shot and kept turning the ball over to help Dallas race to a 51-25 lead only 4 minutes into the second quarter. But the Hawks turned things around before halftime, closing to 58-48 at the break. Young and Doncic are two of the NBA’s most touted rookies, and they figure to be linked together for the rest of their careers.
The Hawks selected the 19-year-old Slovenian with the No. 3 overall pick, only to deal him to the Mavericks in exchange for Young, who was chosen at No. 5. Atlanta also picked up 2019 first-round selection in the deal.
Harden leaves with apparent injury in Rockets’ loss
Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 100-89 road victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in a game James Harden left with an apparent injury.
Harden headed to the locker room midway through the third quarter and didn’t return. It was unclear how he was injured or what the problem was and the team didn’t immediately provide an update.
Harden scored 29 points and Carmelo Anthony had a season-high 22 for the Rockets. Chris Paul finished up a two-game suspension for his role in a fight with the Lakers last week, and fellow starter James Ennis sat out with a strained right hamstring.
Wizards’ Markieff Morris fined $15K
Washington forward Markieff Morris has been fined $15,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct late in the Wizards’ overtime victory at Portland on Monday night. Morris was on the bench when he twice pulled at guard Seth Curry’s shorts during live play at the end of the fourth quarter in the Wizards’ 125-124 victory.
Walton fined for criticizing officials
Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton has been fined $15,000 for public criticism of the officiating.
It stems from comments Walton made following the Lakers’ 143-142 overtime loss to the Spurs on Monday. The officials gave 38 free throws to San Antonio and just 26 to Los Angeles, even though the Lakers outscored the Spurs 74-50 in the paint. Walton said the officials didn’t give the Lakers calls because they’re a young team.