Hawks edge Wizards 122-120 despite Kristaps Porzingis’ 43 points

WASHINGTON(AP) — De’Andre Hunter’s three-point play with 1:07 remaining putAtlanta ahead to stay, and the Hawks held off the WashingtonWizards 122-120 on Wednesday night despite a career-high 43 pointsby Kristaps Porzingis.

The teamswill finish the two-game set in Washington on Friday night.

AfterHunter put the Hawks up 117-114, Bradley Beal made just one of twofree throws with 52.7 seconds left for Washington. Beal then stolethe ball from Trae Young but couldn’t convert on the break, andHunter’s two free throws pushed the lead to four.

Then Bealwas called for traveling, one of several mistakes he made in thefourth quarter as the focus of the offense shifted toward him andaway from Porzingis.

“Happy withthe effort and proud of, really as much as anything tonight, in mymind for our team, was about just competing,” Hawks coach QuinSnyder said. “I thought we really competed.”

Porzingismade all five of his shot attempts in the fourth — including four3-pointers — but his last-second 3 only cut the final deficit totwo. He finished 17 of 22 from the field, 7 of 10 beyond thearc.

“He wasunstoppable tonight,” Snyder said. “When he’s that big and he’smaking contested 2s. I thought we gave him a few 3s.”

Young ledAtlanta with 28 points and 10 assists. He shot 11 of 14 from thefield.

“I’m gladmy offensive game matched my defense tonight,” Young said.

Bealfinished with 24 points on 8-of-19 shooting — he was 1 of 6 in thefinal quarter — and Kyle Kuzma had 25 points and 10 rebounds forthe Wizards.

Atlantaremained in sole possession of eighth place in the EasternConference. Washington had a chance to tie the Hawks with a win —and if Atlanta had lost, Toronto would have had a chance to takeover the No. 8 spot later Wednesday against the Los AngelesClippers.

The Hawkstrailed by as many as 15 points, but after a 14-0 run spanning theend of the third quarter and start of the fourth, they were up100-94. Washington responded with 11 straight points of its own,and it was tight the rest of the way.

The Wizardswere on the second night of a back-to-back after winning at Detroiton Tuesday.

“I wouldlike us to be a little bit tougher honestly,” Porzingis said. “Wegive ourselves some discounts somewhere. Yes it’s true. Of coursewe have four games in five days and it’s hard and we were on theroad yesterday, but we cannot put that in our minds. It’s not goingto help us.”

TIP-INS

Hawks:Atlanta had seven players score in double figures. Dejounte Murrayhad 17 points and Hunter added 15.

Wizards:Washington had 19 turnovers to Atlanta’s 11. ... Monte Morris(back) returned for the Wizards but did not start. He scored fivepoints in 16:29.