EditorsNote: minor edits
Trae Young responded in an emotional way to the reported death of Kobe Bryant by producing 45 points and 14 assists to help the Atlanta Hawks defeat the visiting Washington Wizards 152-133 on Sunday.
Young began the game wearing No. 8, Bryant's original jersey number, before changing into his usual No. 11. Young wore Bryant's No. 24 on the back of his shoes.
It was the eighth time this season Young has scored 40-plus points. He was 13 of 24 from the floor, 13 of 16 from the line and had six rebounds.
Young had been limited to 19 points in the first meeting against Washington. But he had a double-double by halftime Sunday, getting 21 points and 10 assists in the first two quarters.
The points total was the Hawks' highest this season. Five other players scored in double figures: De'Andre Hunter with 25, Kevin Huerter with 18, John Collins with 16, Bruno Fernando with 14 and Cam Reddish with 13. Fernando had 12 rebounds.
Bradley Beal had 40 points and six assists for Washington, which had six other players score in double figures. Troy Brown Jr. finished with 19 points.
The game started at a brisk pace, with Washington holding a 33-31 lead after the first quarter. Atlanta began to pull away in the second quarter and took a 10-point lead when Huerter drained a 3-pointer with 2:38 left to make it 71-61. Atlanta led 78-72 at intermission after Young hit a half-court shot at the buzzer. His 21 points were a season high for a first half.
The Hawks expanded their lead by outscoring Washington 41-30 in the third quarter.
The Hawks honored Bryant with a moment of silence before the game. Both teams lined up for the national anthem and Atlanta veteran Vince Carter was seen wiping his eyes. Young opened the game with an intentional eight-second backcourt violation and Washington responded with an intentional 24-second violation.
Washington completes its four-game road trip on Tuesday in Milwaukee. Atlanta travels to Toronto on Tuesday to play the Raptors for the second time in eight days.
--Field Level Media
