DENVER (AP) — Trae Young scored 15 of his season-high 42 points in the fourth quarter and added 11 assists to lead the Atlanta Hawks over the Denver Nuggets 125-121 on Tuesday night.
Young finished seven points shy of his career high set March 1 against Chicago last season. He was 13 of 21 from the field and finished 8 for 13 on 3-pointers.
Jabari Parker had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Alex Len scored 17 for the Hawks, who played most of the second half without guard Kevin Huerter.
Huerter was hurt when he was fouled by Nikola Jokic with 9:57 remaining in the third. Jokic slapped down on his arm as Huerter was starting to go up with the ball and he immediately grabbed his left arm. He was holding the arm against his body as he walked to the locker room.
Huerter was ruled out for the game later in the period.
Will Barton led Denver with 21 points, Jokic had 20 and Paul Millsap added 19. The Nuggets had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Young, who had 17 points in the first half, shouldered the load on offense after Huerter left. Young put up 10 points in the third and then carried the Hawks in the fourth, scoring more than half of their 27 points.
Denver rallied early in the fourth to tie it at 101 but Young hit a pair of 3-pointers and a floater to put Atlanta ahead 114-106. The Nuggets couldn't get closer than four the rest of the way.
Atlanta, which trailed 12-0 in the opening minutes, rallied to take a 63-54 lead at halftime. The Hawks increased their lead to 13 in the third.
TIP-INS
Hawks: F Allen Crabbe (knee) was dressed but coach Lloyd Pierce didn't want to use him. "He's still in the emergency situation. We needed a body to dress," Pierce said. ... Atlanta shot 68 percent (15 of 22) in the second quarter.
Nuggets: G Malik Beasley was inactive due to illness. He sat out the second half of Sunday's win at Minnesota. ... The 38 points allowed in the second quarter and the 63 points in the first half were the most Denver has given up.
UP NEXT
Hawks: At the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.
Nuggets: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
