Hawks cruise past slumping Blazers for new coach Snyder’s first win

Dejounte Murray finished with a career-high 41 points to give new coach Quin Snyder his first win with the Atlanta Hawks a comfortable 129-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at State Farm Arena on Friday night.

Finished the home stand 3-1 pic.twitter.com/b74x0FWnk0

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 4, 2023

Murray also had five rebounds and six assists, making 17 of 22 shots from the field for the game and all five of his 3-point attempts.

GO DJ, CAREER HIGH DJ pic.twitter.com/WSDuzmpypy

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 4, 2023

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Point guard Trae Young finished with 23 points, including 15 in the third quarter, and 11 assists, De’Andre Hunter had 17 points, and Clint Capela contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Former Utah Jazz coach Snyder agreed to a five-year deal as Atlanta’s coach on Feb. 26, five days after the firing of Nate McMillan. The Hawks lost to Washington 119-116 on Tuesday night in Snyder’s debut.

Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 33 points, Cam Reddish had 25 points and Jerami Grant had 14 for the Trail Blazers, who lost their third straight and fifth in six games.

The Blazers, who managed just nine second-chance points while shooting 47.1% from the field and 33.3% on threes, trailed the entire game and had no defensive answer for the Hawks’ offense. Atlanta shot 57.1% from the field and 46.2% on threes.

The Blazers (29-34) fell to five games under .500 for the first time this season while the Hawks (32-31) were able to pick up a big win before starting a four-game trip.

The Hawks will be back in action on Saturday to take on the Miami Heat on the road in South Florida. The Blazers play at the Orlando Magic (26-37) on Sunday.