The Atlanta Hawks came to San Francisco for a New Year's start at the Chase Center along San Francisco Bay. The Warriors have been struggling minus some starters, namely Steph Curry(shoulder) and Wiggins(ankle). The Hawks are a middlin' team this season, but can put up some numbers; so they arrived with some hope and some strengths among the team members.
The Hawks started out rather slowly, allowing the home team to amass a good lead, setting a tempo that seemed to indicate the Dubs were on top of the night early rather than late. Then, in the second half, the Hawks started a run, or several runs and soon the scales tipped against the Dubs, now behind and playing catch up. It was a constant struggle all the way to the final buzzer of regulation play. Overtime.
The overtime(5 mins) began with a back and forth effort by both teams: up and down, turnovers, 3-pointers, and timely baskets. At the end, the score is tied once more. Overtime period #2- a first at the Chase Center. Who plays a double overtime? Not many teams to be sure, and certainly, not the Warriors. So, back and forth, back and forth. The Hawks are now relying on an old tactic: cause the opponent to foul on the way to the basket. One Hawk seemed to have the talent to cause the Warriors to foul just at the right time. With under a minute to go, Klay Thompson hits a 3-pointer that seems to be enough to win if the team can hold on. It can't, now down by 1 point. Thompson now has 54 points on the night. As the clock ticks away, the Warriors get the ball into their half and Thompson fires again from 3 point range: no luck. And a put back that rims the basket, but with another heroic effort, the put back falls in as time expires. Warriors win. Kevon Looney put this win into the books, a win that will be long remembered by fans and Hawks alike.
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