Hawks can’t complete last-second comeback, lose to Mavs 120-118

Yet another wasted opportunity.

The Atlanta Hawks were in Dallas on Wednesday evening to take on the Mavericks. This was the Hawks second game of a back-to-back, as they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers yesterday at home.

Both the Hawks and Mavericks are looking to get good seeding in the Play-In tournament in their respective conferences, and every win matters during this stretch of the season.

It was a team effort to start the game, as all five starters were able to get on the board to keep the Hawks afloat.

The threes were falling from the second unit, as Caris LeVert and Vit Krejci came in and got on the board early.

The Hawks and Mavericks went back and forth for the lead in the first, and Trae Young helped them regain it after this corner three. Going into the second quarter, the Hawks led 34-32.

The Hawks started to gain some momentum in the second quarter, and Onyeka Okongwu popped it off with a hustle play that led to an and-one for LeVert. A few plays later, Okongwu challenged a play at the rim, and on the other side of the floor, walked into a 3-pointer.

Okongwu didn’t stop there and got a dunk to go from an assist by Young, which helped extend the Hawks lead.

The Hawks continued to keep the lead throughout the quarter, and every time it looked like the Mavericks were going to make a run, they had an answer. Young continued to dominate in the first half with 21 points, which included this and-one.

The Hawks went into halftime leading 72-67. The Hawks continued to keep the lead throughout the third, and Mouhamed Gueye got an easy slam on the break.

LeVert got this fadeaway midrange shot to go as the Mavericks planned a comeback.

The Mavericks eventually were able to break through and take the lead late in the third as the Hawks struggled to find some offense. The Mavericks fell into a zone which allowed the Hawks to get some easy 3-pointers, and they were able to keep the game close.

Going into the fourth, the Hawks could not get anything going as the Mavericks went on a 7-0 run to go up double digits. Like the Hawks have done all season, they fought back and cut their deficit down, with the help of Georges Niang.

The Hawks kept it close midway through the fourth, but both teams struggled to get anything going. It was the Okongwu show down the stretch, as he got an and-one to go over Anthony Davis to cut the Hawks deficit to two points.

Daniels then knocked a three to give the Hawks the lead.

Okongwu made another hook shot to extend the Hawks’ lead to three points.

Klay Thompson hit a big three to tie the game for the Mavericks, and the Hawks had a few chances to take back the lead but weren’t able to. With 3.4 seconds left in the game, Davis hit a runner to give the Mavericks a two-point lead. Young had a look at the final shot and went for the three over Davis, but he ended up missing and the Hawks walked away with a loss.

Young finished with 25 points and 12 assists, Okongwu with 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Daniels finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

The Hawks will be back in action on Saturday to face the New York Knicks.