Brooklyn Nets vs. Atlanta Hawks Takeaways and Grades 3/26/17

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Mar 26, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Taurean Prince (12) shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

The Brooklyn Nets traveled down south to take on the Atlanta Hawks in an early Sunday afternoon matchup. They were able to survive the Hawks’ many comebacks and came out on top, 107-92.

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Team Stats

Field goal shooting/percentage

Nets: 38-86 (44.2%)
Hawks: 34-98 (34.7%)

Three-point shooting/percentage

Nets: 6-22 (27.3%)
Hawks: 5-27 (18.5%)

Rebounds

Nets: 50
Hawks: 58

Assists

Nets: 21
Hawks: 16

Steals

Nets: 13
Hawks: 10

Blocks

Nets: 7
Hawks: 3

Turnovers

Nets: 17
Hawks: 20

Fouls

Nets: 25
Hawks: 19

Free throws

Nets: 25-30
Hawks: 19-32

Points in paint

Nets: 54
Hawks: 46

Fast break points

Nets: 24
Hawks: 20

Bench points

Nets: 46 (whoa!)
Hawks: 7

Largest lead

Nets: 22 (!!!)
Hawks: 4 (ouch.)

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Key Plays

After a rocky start that involved turnovers and missed shots, the Nets knocked down four of their next five baskets to take a 10-5 lead. The Hawks responded with a 9-0 run, led by Dwight Howard‘s contributions on the glass and in scoring. Still, in a strong showing by the Nets’ reserves, Brooklyn started to pull away. Isaiah Whitehead had a few tough floaters to accompany this impressive layup on a drive down the baseline. To end the first, Spencer Dinwiddie completed a four-point play after taking contact from Dennis Schroder out on the perimeter. The Nets were up 32-20 after one quarter.

In the second, the Hawks began to claw their way back, outscoring the Nets 28-23 in the quarter. Atlanta was powered by their offensive rebounds, which accounted for 16 out of their total 33 rebounds in the first half. But, K.J. McDaniels left Nets Twitter in awe by essentially taking the ball out of the air on an attempted hook by Howard.

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The Nets never gave up their lead for the rest of the way, though the Hawks would not go away on a few more occasions. Atlanta struck within five points twice in the opening minutes of the second half and came within seven in the fourth. Brooklyn stood their ground by continuing to produce for the rest of regulation.

Additionally, Brook Lopez made Nets history yet again this season in the fourth, after a floater assisted by Jeremy Lin marked him as the Nets’ all-time franchise leader in field goals made.

Brook Lopez, your Nets all-time franchise leader in field goals made. Here's No. 3,982. #NETSonYES pic.twitter.com/rhttInK5Sb
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 26, 2017

Plus, with the Nets still holding a double-digit lead, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson posterized Taurean Prince on this crazy “mammoth hammer,” as declared by Ryan Ruocco. It was highlight reel after highlight reel for the Nets in this game. More importantly, they secured their 16th win of the season.

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Top Performers

Nets:

Brook Lopez: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 1 block
Jeremy Lin: 19 points, 8 assists, 2 steals

Hawks:

Dennis Schroder: 24 points, 8 assists, 2 steals
Dwight Howard: 19 points, 16 rebounds