Rockets get revenge on Hawks trash-talkers
Trae Young and Dejounte Murray tried to clown the young Houston Rockets. The Rockets had the last laugh.
Young scored 44, and Murray had a career-high 39 points and eight three-pointers, including one third-quarter three that sparked an altercation, after he followed up his shot by smacking rookie Jabari Smith Jr. on the head.
The basket gave Atlanta an 87-74 lead, and when Murray stole a pass and fed Young for a three, the lead was 90-74 and the celebration was...somewhat excessive.
Pushed too far, the Rockets got into a shoving match with the Hawks at the other end, after Jalen Green was fouled. Murray using the NBA's hottest — and most meaningless — new taunt, the "too small." Dejounte, Trae Young is 6-foot-1!
Murray, Young, Smith and Green all got technical fouls after the dustup, and the Rockets woke up. Houston cut the lead to 10 points by the end of the quarter, and then blew out the Hawks in the fourth, 34-18. The victimized Smith and Green nearly outscored the Hawks by themselves in the final quarter, combining for 17 points to Atlanta's 18. Young and Murray shot 3-of-9 combined while monopolizing the ball — they had three turnovers, three fouls and just a single assist as a pair.
With 4:47 left, Murray raised a finger to shush the Houston crowd after his three-pointer gave Atlanta a 117-114 lead. After this last piece of taunting, the Rockets outscored the Hawks 14-5.
Talking trash to rookies has become something of a habit for Murray, who also got in Paolo Banchero's face during a pro-am game this summer.
There's nothing wrong with talking trash. But you better not blow a 15-point lead afterward.
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