In a dramatic turn of events, the Atlanta Hawks (2-2) went from a dire situation to a glorious comeback, all thanks to the remarkable performance of Dejounte Murray. Their impressive 127-113 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves was characterized by a stunning 60-20 comeback run, with Murray leading the charge by scoring 22 of his game-high 41 points in the third quarter alone.
As Reported by Support Illustrated, after the game, Murray shared his thoughts, saying, “I love the game. I love working. I’ve always believed the work is going to show, no matter who you are or whatever you do in life. The work you put in is going to show eventually.”
Trae Young, a teammate of Murray, praised his outstanding performance, stating, “DJ played a hell of a game. DJ’s the reason why we won tonight. That third quarter, the way he finished that quarter. I usually finish quarters. But there was no reason. I told him, ‘There’s no reason for me to go back in the game. DJ’s hot.’ And it was good to see, and we needed him to have it for us to come back and win.”
Murray’s dominance was evident as he outscored the entire Timberwolves team in the third quarter, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the field.
The Hawks displayed remarkable shooting prowess in the second half, shooting 61.4% from the floor and 41.7% from beyond the arc. This performance was in stark contrast to the Timberwolves’ strong start in the first half, where they shot 67.4% from the field and 66.7% from three-point range.
However, it was Atlanta’s stellar defensive effort in the second half that played a pivotal role in their victory. They held Minnesota to a mere 29.5% shooting overall and 26.7% from long-range. This defensive tenacity mirrored their win against the Milwaukee Bucks in the previous game.
Murray acknowledged the team’s resilience, saying, “It was great. It was a testament to us as a team. A little adversity hit. They were hot in the first quarter, the first half. … The only thing for us is we couldn’t put our heads down. I think we just showed that we’re built for whatever. … Once we utilize the talent we have, we could go a long way.”
While Murray’s statistics were impressive, the victory was the most significant outcome of the night.
Trae Young highlighted the similarity between himself and Murray, emphasizing that it’s not just about individual numbers but about wins and losses. Young commended Murray’s dedication to winning and expressed his excitement about having a teammate with such a winning mindset.
Murray emphasized his commitment to becoming elite on the defensive end, emphasizing that the team’s focus should be on aspects they can control. He stressed, “We’re going to make or miss shots. We can’t control that. We’ve got to move on and do the things we can control.”
The Hawks showed their ability to control the game by reversing the turnover and rebounding margins in the second half. They went from being minus-four in turnovers to plus-five and from minus-six in rebounds to plus-four.
Overall, Murray’s standout performance provided a significant boost to the Hawks, and his teammates recognized the importance of his efficient night. Despite entering the game with less impressive shooting statistics, Murray’s performance proved crucial to the team’s success.
Young summed it up, saying, “I’m glad that he got his shot going tonight. We’re going to need him to keep it going for us to be where we want to be at the end.