Trae Younger silences the Delta Heart with the sixth-longest game-winning buzzer in NBA historical past.
A reminder on The Horry Scale: It breaks down a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) within the classes of problem, recreation scenario (was the group tied or behind on the time?), significance (playoff recreation or garden-variety night time in November?) and celebration. Then we give it an total grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys, named for the patron saint of last-second answered prayers.
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After a scoreless first quarter, it seemed like a forgettable night time for Trae Younger.
It was simply the alternative.
Younger capped a spectacular 24-point, 20-assist night time with a game-winning buzzer-beating 3-pointer from past the half-court line to provide the Atlanta Hawks a 124-121 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Younger took an inbounds cross, dribbled to only in need of halfcourt and hit the 49-foot winner as time expired whereas being guarded by Collin Sexton, who had simply tied the sport with a clutch 3-pointer on a damaged play.
A 49-FOOT Ice Trae #TissotBuzzerBeater…
Listed here are ALL THE ANGLES. 📸 https://t.co/lkcFDqnQXM pic.twitter.com/ZAPn1SBwIV
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2025
GAME SITUATION: After Younger made a pair of free throws with 8.1 seconds left, Sexton knocked down a contested 3 from the wing to tie the sport at 121-121. With 2.9 seconds left in regulation and the Hawks out of timeouts, it appeared time beyond regulation was imminent. However Younger took the inbounds cross and instantly pushed the ball up the ground and launched a prayer over Sexton. Nothing however web.
DIFFICULTY: Younger has hit his share of emblem 3s through the years and makes half-court photographs in warmups with some regularity. However this was uncharted territory. Together with his eyes on the rim, Younger took two dribbles and used each ounce of his 164-pound body to supply the sixth-longest game-winning buzzer-beater in NBA historical past.
CELEBRATION: Younger waved buh-bye to the surprised followers on the Delta Heart and had simply sufficient time to interrupt into his patented “shiver” gesture earlier than his teammates mobbed him at heart court docket.
“When there’s time left, I all the time really feel like we are able to rating,” mentioned Younger, who’s the primary participant with 20 assists and a game-winning buzzer-beater in the identical recreation.
HAWKS WIN 🥶 pic.twitter.com/5y2Hr7pgAj
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 8, 2025
Trae Younger’s 49-foot game-winner reminded us…
Of the LONGEST game-winners going again to 2014.
They get progressively longer. Take pleasure in. 😎 pic.twitter.com/e5VWTe77WN
— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2025
GRADE: Cool as ice, as all the time, Younger added to his legacy as probably the most clutch shooters within the NBA. What a method to cap his third 20-20 recreation of the season. Certain, the sport would have gone to OT had Younger missed and it was only a regular-season recreation in January, however it nonetheless charges excessive on The Scale. 4 Horrys.
