ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young made all of his 21 free throws and scored 35 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to their fourth straight victory, 123-110 over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. Young's perfect performance at the line placed him among elite company, as he became only the eighth player in NBA history to hit 21 or more free throws without missing. Despite having trouble with his shooting, going 7 of 20 from the field and missing all five of his 3-point attempts, Young’s contributions did not go unnoticed.
The game, held March 12, 2025, at State Farm Arena, showcased Young's resilience after missing the previous game due to injury. He returned to the lineup with vigor, achieving his 39th double-double of the season, which included 12 assists and seven rebounds. Young's performance was also noteworthy as it marked his 19th game this season with over 30 points.
The Hawks, now improving their record to 32-34, solidified their spot as the No. 7 team in the Eastern Conference with their victory over the Hornets, having won all three matchups this season. They relied on significant contributions from their bench, which scored an impressive 57 points to the Hornets' 18. Caris LeVert led the bench unit with 15 points, and Georges Niang added 12 points.
For the Hornets, Miles Bridges highlighted the night with 31 points and 11 rebounds, showing some fight but struggling against the Hawks' strong defensive effort, which forced 21 turnovers throughout the game. LaMelo Ball and DaQuan Jeffries also made solid contributions, scoring 25 points and 20 points respectively, but it wasn’t enough to stop their two-game winning streak from coming to an end. Charlotte fell to 6-25 on the road this season.
The first half saw both teams play sluggishly, shooting under 42 percent from the field and combining for 19 turnovers. Atlanta managed to lead 52-49 at halftime, and much of the action unfolded with typical back-and-forth play. Young fussed through his shooting woes but continued to drive the team forward with his passing and free-throw shooting ability.
Beginning the second half, the Hawks exploded with 11 consecutive points, creating the distance they needed to keep the Hornets at bay. The Hawks extended their lead to as many as 14 points, but the Hornets fought back, narrowing the gap. Charlotte attempted to stage a comeback, opening the fourth quarter with their own 7-0 run. Yet, clutch three-pointers from LeVert and Niang sealed the deal for Atlanta, solidifying their advantage late.
Atlanta's head coach, Quin Snyder, praised his players’ defensive efforts, especially their ability to capitalize on turnover opportunities against Charlotte. "We executed well defensively and took advantage of their mistakes," Snyder remarked, emphasizing the team's unity and growth with the playoffs nearing.
The Hawks now look to build on this winning momentum as they conclude their six-game homestand against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 14, 2025, which will mark Bogdan Bogdanovic's first game back. Meanwhile, the Hornets head to San Antonio for the next leg of their road trip.
With Young leading the charge, the Hawks have gathered significant momentum heading toward the season's final stretch, showcasing their potential to make waves in the upcoming playoffs.