x
Breaking News
More () »

Huerter's three-pointer lifts Hawks to stunning 121-120 win over Spurs

Kevin Huerter's big shot with 6.3 seconds left completed a 14-point rally in the fourth quarter for Atlanta.
Credit: AP
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Vince Carter goes up a shot against Spurs Jakob Poeltl, left, and Derrick White in the first half of Friday night's game at the AT&T Center.

SAN ANTONIO — You've heard it before: It ain't over until its over.

Just when it appeared the Spurs would pull out a hard-fought victory against Atlanta, guard Kevin Huerter hit a wide-open three-pointer with 6.3 seconds left to give the Hawks a stunning 121-120 win Friday night at the AT&T Center.

The game ended with Spurs forward DeMar DeRozan missing a driving runner just before the final buzzer.

"I was just trying to get downhill to try to get the best shot at the basket," DeRozan said. "It looked good. I thought I had the corner to turn and get to the basket but, you know, it happens.”

Huerter's game-winning shot from the left corner capped a 14-point rally in the fourth quarter for Atlanta, which trailed 99-88 heading into the final period.

"Playing the game when we have the lead, we have to understand that we have to be poised, disciplined, don’t feel rushed on offense and understand how to be solid defensively," DeRozan said. "We had a couple of lapses on both ends that definitely cost us.”

The Hawks (10-32) completed a sweep of their season series against the Spurs (17-23), who lost 108-100 in Atlanta on Nov. 5. Only Golden State (9-34) has a worse record than the Hawks.

The victory snapped a 21-game losing streak in San Antonio for Atlanta, which hadn't won in the Alamo City since Feb. 15, 1997.

DeRozan scored on a short pull-up jumper to put the Spurs up by eight, 114-106, with 3:40 left, but the Hawks outscored the Silver and Black 15-6 down the stretch to pull out the win.

Credit: AP
Atlanta Hawks forward/center Bruno Fernando scores against Spurs center Jakob Poeltl in the first half of Friday night's game at the AT&T Center.

Coach Gregg Popovich was understandably agitated with the Spurs' defensive meltdown in the fourth quarter. Atlanta outscored San Antonio 33-21, shooting 66.7 percent overall (10-15) and 58.3 percent (7-12) from beyond the arc.

Guard Trae Young scored 12 of his game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter, finishing the period 3 of 3 from the field, including 2 of 2 from three-point distance. For the game, Young nailed 10 of 16 shots, including 6 of 9 from the three-point line. He had 19 points in the first half.

“Just not playing solid and we were switching the whole time," Popovich said, referring to the Spurs' defensive breakdowns at crunch time. "All of a sudden, we had two guys going after one guy, just really bad execution down the stretch. Had been solid for the whole second half and we didn’t execute. They just ran a small, small deal. We were supposed to read, we didn’t read it twice, and they got six points.

"And right after that, drove weak side, defense was down there just standing there doing nothing, eight points right there, lead was gone. So, we were not solid down the stretch and it’s what has bitten us in the ass the whole year. Too many mistakes down the stretch and that’s what always seems to happen when we lose a basketball game.” 

Ahead by 11 going into the fourth quarter, the Silver and Black extended their lead to 14 (107-93) on two free throws by Derrick White with 10:20 left. But a 30-foot three-pointer by Huerter cut the Hawks' deficit to under 10 (107-99) with nine minutes remaining.

The Spurs clung to the lead until Huerter knocked down his game-winning three. Huerter made 4 of 10 three-pointers for the game and finished with 18 points. He stepped up in the fourth period, scoring eight points on 3 of 4 shooting, including 2 of 3 from the three-point line.  

Cam Reddish scored 22 points for the Hawks, and also came up big in the fourth quarter. He scored nine points in the period on 3-of-4 shooting from three-point distance. John Collins added 18 points and ageless Vince Carter, who turns 43 on Jan. 26, rounded out Atlanta's double-figure scoring with 14 points.

Carter, who will retire at the end of the season after a 22-year career in the NBA, was honored by the Spurs with a video tribute before the game. 

LaMarcus Aldridge and DeRozan led the Silver and Black's scoring with 30 and 25 points, respectively. Patty Mills (15) and Dejounte Murray (13) completed the double-digit scoring for San Antonio.

DeRozan, who hit 9 of 18 shots, had another stellar game, fell just one rebound and one assist short of finishing with a triple-double. DeRozan moved to No. 2 for the longest streaks in NBA history with 20+ points and 3+ assists while shooting 50 percent from the floor. DeRozan, whose streak stands at 13 games, trails Wilt Chamberlain (19).

Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Chris Mullin each had 12 consecutive games with at least 20 points, three assists and 50-percent shooting from the floor. 

Sparked by Aldridge and DeRozan, the Spurs outscored the Hawks 41-21 in the third quarter to take a 99-88 lead into the fourth period. DeRozan scored 11 points in the third quarter and Aldridge added 10. 

Led by Young, the Hawks led 67-58 at the half. Atlanta shot 51.1 percent overall (23-45) and 47.5 percent (10-21) from the three-point line in the first two quarters. Carter (12) and John Collins also in double digits for Hawks.

Young was outstanding in the first half, scoring his 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three-point distance.

Aldridge (14) and DeRozan (10) led the first-half scoring for the Spurs, who shot 47.1 percent overall (24-51) and 23.5 percent (4-17) from three.

The game was the first of two in a row at home for the Spurs, who play the Miami Heat at 2 p.m. Sunday. The Heat beat the Silver and Black 106-100 on Wednesday night in Miami.

San Antonio plays eight more games, including five at home, before embarking on its annual Rodeo Road Trip. The Spurs have back-to-back road games against Phoenix on Monday and New Orleans on Wednesday, before hosting Phoenix next Friday and Toronto on Sunday, Jan. 26.

The Silver and Black play at Chicago on Jan. 27, and host Utah (Jan. 29) and Charlotte (Feb. 1) before playing eight straight road games in 21 days during the Rodeo Road Trip. The Spurs leave the AT&T Center for an extended period each year to make way for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, scheduled for Feb. 6 to 23 this year.

 

 

Before You Leave, Check This Out