Tonight, in Atlanta, the Hawks pulled off a remarkable comeback to secure a victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With an unexpected turn, the game kept fans on the edge of their seats. Furthermore, adding to the intrigue is that Trae Young did not lead them in points. The Hawks entered the game with a similar starting lineup to the previous game. They featured Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, De’Andre Hunter, Jalen Johnson, and Clint Capela.

In the first quarter, the Timberwolves were on fire. They shot an impressive 71% from beyond the arc and an astonishing 68% from the field. With that, the first half for the Hawks was nothing short of disappointing. However, a significant turnaround took place in the second half; with the third quarter, in particular, being the turning point.

Dejounte Murray shines in a comeback victory

Dejounte Murray delivered an epic performance against the Wolves. In doing so, he reached the 40-point milestone, equaling his career-best of 41 points. Murray initially set his personal best on March 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

What adds even more significance to Murray’s achievement is that he took control of the game precisely when it counted the most. Singlehandedly, Dejounte Murray steered the Hawks back into the game, erasing Minnesota’s 79-60 lead at halftime.

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During the Hawks’ explosive 38-point third quarter, Murray contributed a staggering 26 points.

Furthermore, he made all eight of his field goal attempts. Additionally, he connected on multiple crucial shots beyond the arc, ensuring the game was deadlocked at 98 heading into the final quarter.

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Murray displayed tremendous efficiency in the second half of the game. He connected for 12-14 field goals within the stretch. Along with 41 points, he added 7 rebounds and 4 assists to help Hawks clinch victory.

Can Murray be the new face of the Hawks?

During the offseason, the most significant move made by the Hawks was retaining Dejounte Murray. They secured the 27-year-old with a lucrative 4-year, $120 million contract. Murray, a former All-Star, continues to exhibit the potential to reach those heights again. As demonstrated in his performance against the Wolves, he occasionally displays flashes of being a leader on the team. However, to solidify his role as a dependable option alongside Trae Young, he must consistently prove his reliability game after game.

At present, Murray can be compared to players like Jalen Green, or perhaps slightly above them. Green is believed to have a star player potential, similar to Dejounte. With that being said, Murray’s next challenge should be to reach the level of players like Desmond Bane and Tyler Herro (or even steps further, Jaylen Brown), who bring a level of consistency to their teams. While Murray’s defensive attributes are acknowledged, Herro and Bane have garnered an image of being dependable.

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So, is Murray capable of being a true leader for the Atlanta Hawks? If everything falls into place, the answer is probably yes. However, so far, things haven’t quite aligned as Atlanta had hoped; one of the issues being the franchise’s inability to maximize the capabilities of Young and Murray fully.

Young and Murray are in their second season together. At a point, Murray has likened their partnership to what he’s seen with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. This signifies his determination to work through challenges with his superstar teammate and create a successful collaboration.