Three Takeaways From Hawks 109-92 Win Over the Orlando Magic

The Hawks snapped their three-game losing streak last night vs the Magic

All the noise leading into yesterday's game vs the Orlando Magic was about how the Hawks were going to be without Trae Young for at least the next four weeks and what that meant for the franchise the rest of the season. There was still basketball to be played though and the Hawks ended the night with a win vs Orlando. 

It is still too early to say how the rest of the time will go for the Hawks without Young, but that was a needed win. It gives the Hawks the season series over Orlando and keeps them firmly positioned in the No. 10 spot in the play-in tournament. Now, this is just one win against a team on the second night of a back-to-back without its best player, but Atlanta was not playing under the best circumstances either. 

So what are the big takeaways from last night's win?

1. Dejounte Murray and Jalen Johnson led the way for Atlanta

It was a huge night for Murray and Johnson, who both flirted with triple-doubles. Murray finished with 25 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, while Johnson had 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks. Both guys made huge plays when they had to and in the defining 18-1 run in the third quarter, they both led the way, with Murray scoring 10 straight points. 

Murray broke down what went into that run after the game: 

"Just getting great looks. Getting stops on the defensive end which led to offense, which I think is the best offense when you get stops and can get out and run and get great looks and I think that is what it was and shots fell for us and we closed out a great quarter and we got a great team win."

Murray and Johnson are going to have to play well with Young out and so far so good. 

2. Kobe Bufkin got the backup point guard minutes

Hawks guard Kobe Bufkin vs the Magic / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

When Young's injury was announced, it was fair to wonder if that meant more minutes for first-round rookie Kobe Bufkin. Bufkin played the backup point guard minutes and did some good things. Bufkin's impact is going to be felt more on the defensive end and there is not a lot of pressure on him to be a scorer. Bufkin's stat sheet is not going to look impressive, but Hawks head coach Quin Snyder had nothing but good things to say about the way Bufkin played, especially on defense: 

"I will say it again, the job that Ryan Schmidt is doing in the G-League, we have so much confidence that when our guys play there, they are getting better. There is still this tendency from everyone to think of that as some sort of... banishment. When you get the first pick in the MLB draft, you don't go right to the Major Leagues. They work their way in, does not matter if they throw 105 MPH, you learn how to pitch. Particularly for a guard, in Kobe's case, a guy that has been a combo in a lot of ways, to have the ball in his hands and when he is playing with, he is playing a little bit differently in College Park then he is here, trying to find that fell and that pass you mentioned and the shot, he did not make the one against the zone, they went under him and I told him good shot because I believe he can make that.

But the biggest thing is the way he defended and that is real, that is consistent and we know you can do that and that is why we have those absolutes and those things we can do whether we are tired or whatever the case might be. He moved his feet a couple of times, he recovered and he got his chest in front and he was able to make some plays too because he was in position."

3. The Hawks have a problem at center right now

Clint Capela is still not playing his usual minutes and he looks like he is fighting through some stuff to be able to play, but he is not giving the Hawks what they need from him on offense. Bruno Fernando is a fan favorite, but he has limitations on defense and is not a strong rebounder. Atlanta is having to play Jalen Johnson at center in some small lineups, but as good as he is, teams with size will hurt the Hawks. Until Okongwu comes back or Capela gets fully healthy, teams can expose this problem for Atlanta. 

Dejounte Murray and Jalen Johnson Nearly Record Triple-Doubles as Atlanta Defeats Orlando 109-92

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