Dejounte Murray finishes with 26 points and 5 rebounds, including the game-winning jumper, in a 106-104 win over the Magic.
A reminder on The Horry Scale: It breaks down a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) in the categories of difficulty, game situation (was the team tied or behind at the time?), importance (playoff game or garden-variety night in November?) and celebration. Then we give it an overall grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys, named for the patron saint of last-second answered prayers.
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Dejounte Murray was ready for the moment.
Taking the ball on the move against the Orlando Magic, defenders either attached to a man or looming in the passing lanes, the options narrowed to the backyard countdown every basketball player has practiced:
Get to your spot, get off your shot. Defender doesn’t matter — it’s miss or make. And you don’t know ’til you take.
Wednesday night? Make. Mayhem in Atlanta.
Hawks win, 106-104.
GAME SITUATION: With 20 lead changes and no advantage larger than seven points at any moment, perhaps a finish at the buzzer was inevitable. With the Hawks staying ahead on Trae Young’s free throws, Paolo Banchero tied things up for a final time with nine seconds to play, hitting a pullup 3-pointer over two closing defenders as the shot clock dwindled. The inbounds pass opened the closing sequence.
DIFFICULTY: Much like Damian Lillard on Sunday, Murray started this one on the move, with Hawks coach Quin Snyder signaling to play on after Banchero’s triple. Murray raced down the left sideline with Markelle Fultz angling for the cutoff before crossing right and then going behind the back left. Fultz was unbothered, so Murray power dribbled twice — right into his chest — before rising clear and releasing just above Fultz’s outstretched fingertips.
What. A. Finish. pic.twitter.com/kZsK5BAuxO
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 18, 2024
CELEBRATION: Murray’s momentum carried him back toward the fans just beside the Magic bench. He watched it go and never seemed to doubt its outcome, turning toward the fans and untucking his jersey for a statuesque staredown as the cheers cascaded down from the stands. His teammates soon arrived for the obligatory pulsating mass of jubilation, eventually ejecting him out toward the foul line.
GRADE: Looking at a tie at home, overtime banked, Murray and the Hawks essentially entered that inbounds with a free play. Fultz made Murray force it, but he’d already found his spot, and the footwork was clean as could be considering. Not an easy one, but not leaving the home fans with a loss if it doesn’t go down.
3.5 Horrys.
