Hawks erase 23-point Spurs lead as Asa Newell closes out 123-116 comeback

San Antonio had the first punch and nearly every early answer

For a quarter and a half, the Spurs looked set to control the night. San Antonio opened with 39 points in the first quarter, moving in front 39-20 when Dylan Harper buried a step-back three with 18.1 seconds left. Stephon Castle scored 14, Harper added 16 and Devin Vassell chipped in 12, while Victor Wembanyama supplied nine points and six rebounds in 17 minutes.

The home side pushed the margin to 45-22 early in the second quarter, its largest lead of the game. That stretch was built on clean finishing and a steady whistle advantage; San Antonio would end the night with 35 free-throw attempts and 49 rebounds. Even so, the scoreboard already carried the warning sign that changed the game later: the Spurs were giving possessions away, and Atlanta kept finding extra ones.

A flood of Atlanta threes changed the temperature

The comeback began less with one dramatic shot than with a sudden barrage of competent, connected offence. Jock Landale hit from deep at 9:31 of the second quarter, Aaron Wiggins followed at 8:54, Asa Newell connected at 8:30 and Corey Kispert drilled another at 7:52. When Kingston Flemings added a three at 6:56, Atlanta had slashed the deficit to 50-37 and forced San Antonio to play a very different game.

That sequence framed what Atlanta did well all night. The Hawks launched 46 threes, made 18 of them and finished with 30 assists on 46 field goals. The ball moved, the shot volume kept rising and the extra chances mattered. Atlanta grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and attempted 103 shots overall, a huge number beside San Antonio's 79.

By halftime, the runaway had become a contest. The Spurs still led 69-62, but the second quarter belonged to Atlanta 42-30. The Hawks did not lean on a single scorer to get there, either. They had eight players finish in double figures, led by Newell's 16 points in 14 minutes and Flemings' 15 points, five assists and three steals in 20 minutes. CJ McCollum scored 14, while Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels added 13 apiece.

From one-possession tension to a decisive 13-0 burst

The third quarter never fully swung Atlanta's way, but it stripped away San Antonio's comfort. The Spurs still carried a 95-93 lead into the fourth after Dorian Finney-Smith dunked with 25.9 seconds left in the period, and the game spent the next several minutes on a knife edge. Flemings tied it at 102-102 with 9:31 remaining, and Jalen Wilson levelled it again at 104-104 with 9:00 to go.

San Antonio took its final lead at 109-108 when Carter Bryant hit two free throws with 6:01 left. From there, the Hawks produced the most important run of the night. Newell put Atlanta back in front with an alley-oop layup at 5:49, RayJ Dennis followed with a floater at 5:26, and Newell scored again at 4:24. Two more trips to the line from Newell, another finish at 2:10 and Dennis' layup at 1:53 completed a 13-0 surge and turned a one-point deficit into a 121-109 advantage.

The Spurs did make one last push. RJ Davis scored at 1:38, David Jones Garcia added a short jumper at 1:10 and then a three at 45.9 seconds to trim the margin to five. Newell answered by making both free throws with 24.1 seconds left, and that was the finish. Atlanta's closing group had done enough long before the final horn, because it kept turning narrow moments into full possessions and then into points.

Our take

This result is a sharp example of how shot volume can outweigh cleaner percentage numbers. San Antonio shot better from the field, 46.8 per cent to 44.7, won the rebounding battle 49-43 and lived at the line. But the Spurs also committed 22 total turnovers, and Atlanta turned those mistakes into 30 points. Add in 16 offensive rebounds and the Hawks gave themselves far more opportunities to score.

If San Antonio is looking for the clearest area to clean up, it starts with possession management rather than scoring touch. The Spurs had enough offence to win. Atlanta, meanwhile, has every reason to value the depth it showed here. The Hawks got scoring from all over the floor, real playmaking from several spots and a game-changing bench lift from Newell and Flemings. When a team can survive a 23-point hole without asking one player to carry the entire comeback, that is more than a hot stretch; it is a useful identity.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 11:06

   Stephon Castle makes running layup (Dylan Harper assists)

2. 1st Quarter · 10:49

   Dyson Daniels makes 9-foot floating jump shot (Aaron Wiggins assists)

3. 1st Quarter · 10:03

   Victor Wembanyama makes 18-foot jumper

4. 1st Quarter · 9:32

   Dylan Harper makes driving layup

5. 1st Quarter · 8:53

   Devin Vassell makes 25-foot three point jumper (Julian Champagnie assists)

6. 1st Quarter · 8:46

   Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes free throw 1 of 2

7. 1st Quarter · 8:46

   Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes free throw 2 of 2

8. 1st Quarter · 8:23

   CJ McCollum makes 26-foot three point jumper (Aaron Wiggins assists)

9. 1st Quarter · 7:56

   Stephon Castle makes free throw 1 of 2

10. 1st Quarter · 7:56

    Stephon Castle makes free throw 2 of 2

11. 1st Quarter · 7:32

    Victor Wembanyama makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot

12. 1st Quarter · 7:22

    Dyson Daniels makes driving layup (CJ McCollum assists)

13. 1st Quarter · 6:58

    Onyeka Okongwu makes free throw 2 of 2

14. 1st Quarter · 6:36

    Dylan Harper makes free throw 2 of 2

15. 1st Quarter · 6:24

    Dyson Daniels makes 1-foot two point shot (Onyeka Okongwu assists)

16. 1st Quarter · 6:15

    Dylan Harper makes 1-foot two point shot

17. 1st Quarter · 5:32

    Victor Wembanyama makes free throw 1 of 2

18. 1st Quarter · 5:28

    Devin Vassell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Keldon Johnson assists)

19. 1st Quarter · 4:54

    Victor Wembanyama makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (Stephon Castle assists)

20. 1st Quarter · 4:36

    Devin Vassell makes two point shot

21. 1st Quarter · 3:51

    Stephon Castle makes tip shot

22. 1st Quarter · 3:29

    Stephon Castle makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot

23. 1st Quarter · 3:07

    Jock Landale makes two point shot

24. 1st Quarter · 2:50

    Dylan Harper makes free throw 1 of 2

25. 1st Quarter · 2:50

    Dylan Harper makes free throw 2 of 2

26. 1st Quarter · 2:33

    Harrison Barnes makes 23-foot running jump shot (Dylan Harper assists)

27. 1st Quarter · 2:05

    Kingston Flemings makes 12-foot pullup jump shot (Jock Landale assists)

28. 1st Quarter · 1:29

    Zuby Ejiofor makes driving layup (Kingston Flemings assists)

29. 1st Quarter · 51.2

    Carter Bryant makes 16-foot step back jumpshot

30. 1st Quarter · 41.2

    Aaron Wiggins makes free throw 1 of 2

31. 1st Quarter · 41.2

    Aaron Wiggins makes free throw 2 of 2

32. 1st Quarter · 18.1

    Dylan Harper makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Harrison Barnes assists)

33. 2nd Quarter · 11:42

    Aaron Wiggins makes free throw 1 of 2

34. 2nd Quarter · 11:42

    Aaron Wiggins makes free throw 2 of 2

35. 2nd Quarter · 11:27

    Victor Wembanyama makes free throw 1 of 2

36. 2nd Quarter · 10:27

    Carter Bryant makes free throw 1 of 2

37. 2nd Quarter · 9:58

    Keldon Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2

38. 2nd Quarter · 9:58

    Keldon Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2

39. 2nd Quarter · 9:40

    Julian Champagnie makes running layup (Dylan Harper assists)

40. 2nd Quarter · 9:31

    Jock Landale makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kingston Flemings assists)

41. 2nd Quarter · 9:07

    Julian Champagnie makes 9-foot pullup jump shot

42. 2nd Quarter · 8:54

    Aaron Wiggins makes 25-foot three point jumper (Onyeka Okongwu assists)

43. 2nd Quarter · 8:30

    Asa Newell makes 25-foot running jump shot (Kingston Flemings assists)

44. 2nd Quarter · 7:52

    Corey Kispert makes 27-foot three point jumper (Aaron Wiggins assists)

45. 2nd Quarter · 7:33

    Julian Champagnie makes 26-foot three point jumper (Harrison Barnes assists)

46. 2nd Quarter · 6:56

    Kingston Flemings makes 22-foot three point jumper (Corey Kispert assists)

47. 2nd Quarter · 6:16

    Onyeka Okongwu makes two point shot

48. 2nd Quarter · 5:48

    CJ McCollum makes 24-foot running pullup jump shot

49. 2nd Quarter · 5:25

    Dylan Harper makes 24-foot three point jumper (Victor Wembanyama assists)

50. 2nd Quarter · 5:20

    Dyson Daniels makes 1-foot two point shot

51. 2nd Quarter · 5:04

    Stephon Castle makes 27-foot three point jumper (Devin Vassell assists)

52. 2nd Quarter · 4:54

    Onyeka Okongwu makes 24-foot three point jumper (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists)

53. 2nd Quarter · 4:43

    Stephon Castle makes free throw 1 of 2

54. 2nd Quarter · 4:21

    Asa Newell makes driving dunk (Dyson Daniels assists)

55. 2nd Quarter · 3:54

    CJ McCollum makes 5-foot two point shot (Onyeka Okongwu assists)

56. 2nd Quarter · 3:40

    Devin Vassell makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot (Dylan Harper assists)

57. 2nd Quarter · 3:22

    Dyson Daniels makes two point shot

58. 2nd Quarter · 3:14

    Stephon Castle makes driving layup

59. 2nd Quarter · 2:45

    Dylan Harper makes 25-foot three pointer (Stephon Castle assists)

60. 2nd Quarter · 2:21

    CJ McCollum makes 24-foot three pointer

61. 2nd Quarter · 1:11

    Devin Vassell makes free throw 1 of 2

62. 2nd Quarter · 1:11

    Devin Vassell makes free throw 2 of 2

63. 2nd Quarter · 56.0

    Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot (Onyeka Okongwu assists)

64. 2nd Quarter · 24.0

    Onyeka Okongwu makes 24-foot three point jumper (CJ McCollum assists)

65. 2nd Quarter · 11.0

    Julian Champagnie makes 22-foot three point jumper (Stephon Castle assists)

66. 3rd Quarter · 11:44

    Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes 19-foot pullup jump shot (Onyeka Okongwu assists)

67. 3rd Quarter · 10:45

    CJ McCollum makes 26-foot running jump shot (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists)

68. 3rd Quarter · 10:23

    Carter Bryant makes 25-foot three point jumper (Luke Kornet assists)

69. 3rd Quarter · 9:57

    Luke Kornet makes free throw 1 of 2

70. 3rd Quarter · 9:57

    Luke Kornet makes free throw 2 of 2

71. 3rd Quarter · 9:47

    Onyeka Okongwu makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot (CJ McCollum assists)

72. 3rd Quarter · 8:54

    Luke Kornet makes 9-foot two point shot

73. 3rd Quarter · 8:25

    Dyson Daniels makes 27-foot three point jumper (Aaron Wiggins assists)

74. 3rd Quarter · 8:05

    Keldon Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2

75. 3rd Quarter · 7:41

    Harrison Barnes makes driving layup (Jordan McLaughlin assists)

76. 3rd Quarter · 7:29

    Onyeka Okongwu makes two point shot (CJ McCollum assists)

77. 3rd Quarter · 6:30

    Carter Bryant makes 24-foot three point jumper (Keldon Johnson assists)

78. 3rd Quarter · 6:16

    Kingston Flemings makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot

79. 3rd Quarter · 5:53

    Aaron Wiggins makes 26-foot three point jumper (Corey Kispert assists)

80. 3rd Quarter · 5:21

    Luke Kornet makes dunk

81. 3rd Quarter · 5:11

    Harrison Barnes makes free throw 1 of 2

82. 3rd Quarter · 5:11

    Harrison Barnes makes free throw 2 of 2

83. 3rd Quarter · 4:58

    Kingston Flemings makes 15-foot pullup jump shot

84. 3rd Quarter · 4:39

    Corey Kispert makes two point shot

85. 3rd Quarter · 4:15

    David Jones Garcia makes free throw 1 of 2

86. 3rd Quarter · 4:15

    David Jones Garcia makes free throw 2 of 2

87. 3rd Quarter · 4:00

    Jock Landale makes tip in dunk

88. 3rd Quarter · 3:31

    Tarris Reed Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2

89. 3rd Quarter · 3:31

    Tarris Reed Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2

90. 3rd Quarter · 2:42

    David Jones Garcia makes free throw 1 of 2

91. 3rd Quarter · 2:42

    David Jones Garcia makes free throw 2 of 2

92. 3rd Quarter · 1:42

    Jock Landale makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kingston Flemings assists)

93. 3rd Quarter · 1:23

    David Jones Garcia makes free throw 2 of 2

94. 3rd Quarter · 56.6

    David Jones Garcia makes 3-foot two point shot (Luke Kornet assists)

95. 3rd Quarter · 46.7

    Corey Kispert makes 27-foot three pointer (Jock Landale assists)

96. 3rd Quarter · 25.9

    Dorian Finney-Smith makes 2-foot running dunk

97. 4th Quarter · 11:24

    David Jones Garcia makes 4-foot driving floating jump shot

98. 4th Quarter · 10:44

    Jordan McLaughlin makes 5-foot two point shot (Tarris Reed Jr. assists)

99. 4th Quarter · 10:35

    Corey Kispert makes 3-foot two point shot (RayJ Dennis assists)

100. 4th Quarter · 10:16

     Kingston Flemings makes 24-foot running jump shot (RayJ Dennis assists)

101. 4th Quarter · 10:06

     Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes 2-foot two point shot

102. 4th Quarter · 10:06

     Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes free throw 1 of 1

103. 4th Quarter · 9:52

     Zuby Ejiofor makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kingston Flemings assists)

104. 4th Quarter · 9:31

     Kingston Flemings makes free throw 2 of 2

105. 4th Quarter · 9:16

     Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes 9-foot turnaround jump shot

106. 4th Quarter · 9:00

     Jalen Wilson makes 2-foot layup (RayJ Dennis assists)

107. 4th Quarter · 8:48

     Kingston Flemings makes 3-foot running dunk

108. 4th Quarter · 7:50

     Ja'Kobi Gillespie makes 30-foot three pointer

109. 4th Quarter · 7:04

     Zuby Ejiofor makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Jalen Wilson assists)

110. 4th Quarter · 6:01

     Carter Bryant makes free throw 1 of 2

111. 4th Quarter · 6:01

     Carter Bryant makes free throw 2 of 2

112. 4th Quarter · 5:49

     Asa Newell makes alley oop layup (RayJ Dennis assists)

113. 4th Quarter · 5:26

     RayJ Dennis makes 10-foot driving floating jump shot

114. 4th Quarter · 4:24

     Asa Newell makes 9-foot driving floating jump shot

115. 4th Quarter · 3:55

     Asa Newell makes free throw 1 of 2

116. 4th Quarter · 3:55

     Asa Newell makes free throw 2 of 2

117. 4th Quarter · 2:47

     Asa Newell makes free throw 2 of 2

118. 4th Quarter · 2:10

     Asa Newell makes driving layup

119. 4th Quarter · 1:53

     RayJ Dennis makes 8-foot two point shot

120. 4th Quarter · 1:38

     RJ Davis makes 5-foot two point shot

121. 4th Quarter · 1:10

     David Jones Garcia makes 4-foot driving floating jump shot (RJ Davis assists)

122. 4th Quarter · 45.9

     David Jones Garcia makes 24-foot three point jumper (Taelon Peter assists)

123. 4th Quarter · 24.1

     Asa Newell makes free throw 1 of 2

124. 4th Quarter · 24.1

     Asa Newell makes free throw 2 of 2