Australia’s Jock Landale matched his season high with 26 points in his Atlanta Hawks debut and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23, including the game-winning basket with 1.3 seconds left, helping the team defeat the visiting Utah Jazz 121-119 on Friday (AEDT).
Landale was traded from the Grizzlies to the Jazz, then in a transfer twist was acquired by the Hawks. He flew from Memphis to Atlanta for the Friday morning shootaround and was in the Hawks’ starting line-up later that day.
He shot 10 for 14 from the field, tied his season high with 11 rebounds, matched his career high with five assists and had a season-best four blocked shots.
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Reflecting on the whirlwind movement in the trade window and taking to the court so soon, Landale admitted he was excited to be back playing some “exciting basketball“.
“I was actually sitting on a plane getting ready to go to Utah and I got the call saying, ‘Get off the damn plane’,” he said post-match.
Jock Landale of the Atlanta Hawks sets up a shot. Getty
“The option was to fly in this morning or drive last night. I thought I’d come here, get a good night’s sleep, see the boys, work out this morning and just get acclimatised.
“I’m just glad to be here, man, glad to be playing some basketball.
“A lot of fun. Happy to get the dub [the win]. Good group of boys to play with, a lot of athletes out there. So it’s exciting basketball.”
With the game tied at 119-119 after Utah’s Ace Bailey made a three-pointer with 10.3 seconds remaining, Alexander-Walker dropped in the go-ahead hoop, which rattled on the rim before falling in. Bailey’s contested three-point attempt at the buzzer was no good.
Atlanta also got 22 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists from Jalen Johnson, his 10th triple-double of the season.
Corey Kispert came off the bench to score 20 as the Hawks won their second game in a row.
Utah was led by Isaiah Collier, who scored a career-high 25 points while adding seven rebounds and 11 assists. Collier played 48 minutes for the second straight game.
Dyson Daniels dribbles the ball in front of Jock Landale. NBAE via Getty Images
Bailey didn’t score in the first quarter but finished with 20 points. Lauri Markkanen and Brice Sensabaugh each scored 18.
The win gave Atlanta a sweep of the two-game season series. The Hawks have won four straight against the Jazz.
There were five ties and nine lead changes in the first quarter, which ended with Utah up 31-30 behind Kyle Filipowski’s 10 points.
The Jazz ran off nine unanswered points midway through the second period to take a 12-point lead, only to have Atlanta outscore them 18-5 and go up 61-60 entering half-time after a late lay-up from Alexander-Walker.
Atlanta had a five-point lead early in the third quarter, but Utah rode a 10-point quarter from Bailey to overtake the Hawks and lead 96-92.
Landale’s effort was needed since starter Onyeka Okongwu missed his fourth game since undergoing dental surgery following a nasty elbow in the mouth against the Boston Celtics.
Atlanta’s other acquisitions – Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield and Gabe Vincent – had not yet joined the team. The Hawks waived N’Faly Dante and Duop Reath.
Utah’s Keyonte George (left ankle sprain) and Kevin Love (illness) did not play.
The newly acquired Chris Boucher, Jaren Jackson Jr, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr had not joined the team.