A.J. Griffin on Sunday hit a six-footer on an alley-oop pass at the overtime buzzer as the Atlanta Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 123-122 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
DeMar DeRozan sank three free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining in overtime to finish with 33 points as it appeared the Bulls had the game wrapped up, but Griffin took a sideline alley-oop pass from Jalen Johnson and scored on a turnaround jumper with Derrick Jones Jr defending for the win.
It was Griffin’s second overtime buzzer-beater in his rookie season, the first coming in a 124-122 win over Toronto on Nov. 19.
Photo: AP
“The same thing was going through my head,” Griffin said after scoring 17 points. “Just how fast it happens. I think coach drew up a great play and J.J. made a great pass. Getting that confidence from the coach to be able to go out there and execute. Even on a day when shots aren’t falling, just to continue to keep playing. Just the encouragement to keep going. On to the next one.”
Trae Young hit a 20-footer with 1 second left to give the Hawks a 121-119 lead in the extra period, while Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 17 of his 28 points in the first half for Atlanta.
DeRozan calmly swished the free throws after taking the inbound pass and firing up a three-pointer in which he was fouled by Bogdanovic, but he knew the game was not over.
“I mean I’ve been in the league so much that I’ve seen crazier stuff happen,” DeRozan said. “It’s not over til it’s over... They made a hell of a play... Shake their hand and move on.”
DeRozan had 12 points in the fourth quarter, but he missed a layup that would have given Chicago a one-point lead with 16.5 seconds remaining.
Jones hit one of two free throws that could have given the Bulls a one-point victory, but instead sent the game to overtime.
Young had 19 points and 14 assists for the Hawks. The team’s leading scorer, Young was five of 18 from the field, including two of eight on three-pointers, but his runner with 1:45 remaining gave the Hawks the lead at 107-105.
He followed with a three-pointer to make it 110-107 with 50.6 seconds left in regulation.
Young has struggled lately, beginning the night seven of his last 41 on threes over his past six games and fourth in the league in turnovers.
One night after scoring a season-high 144 points and shooting 63.5 percent in a win over Dallas, Chicago shot 48 percent, including 28.9 percent on three-pointers.
Clint Capela got his eighth straight double-double and 16th of the season, finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Hawks.
Elsewhere, the 76ers stung the Hornets 131-113, the Pelicans eclipsed the Suns 129-124 in overtime, the Lakers downed the Pistons 124-117, the Knicks crushed the Kings112- 99, the Magic mastered the Raptors 111-99 and the Rockets beat the Bucks 97-92.
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