In an intense and tight match until the end between Toronto and Atlanta, it was the Hawks who ended the evening with the last word. The franchise of Trae Young can say thank you to AJ Griffin his rookie, since the latter was sparkling in overtime. He even took the opportunity to score the winning basket at the buzzer (124-122)… in front of his father.
And yes, it was indeed a father-son meeting this Saturday.
AJ Griffin, rookie of the Hawks, against Adrian Griffin, assistant coach of the Raptors. There was dynamite in the air this weekend, and it took more than 48 minutes to decide between the Americans and the Canadians in front of a conquered audience. Yet Toronto had no place there on paper. Orphans of many players including Pascal Siakam, Chris Boucher, Gary Trent Jr, Precious Achiuwa and Otto Porter, Nick Nurse’s men were to be beaten by Atlanta and that’s it. Yes, but that’s not a Nick Nurse team, because a Nick Nurse team fights.
Behind the good work of OG Anunoby, Malachi Flynn, Thaddeux Young and Scottie Barnes, Toronto could even win the match. The reigning Rookie of the Year, who injured his ankle at the very end of the game, thought to crucify the Hawks with a lay-up at the buzzer, but his shot went around the hoop to his greatest despair. Too bad, we’re going to try to finish this in overtime, aren’t we?
And quite precisely, in overtime, it’s another boy who will take the main role in this high-intensity match. AJ Griffin, barely 19, will score 8 of his 17 points in overtime with the bonus of the action of his life at the buzzer.
Rather judge this placement and this space from which he benefited, to bury the Raptors.
AJ GRIFFIN ON THE BUZZER!!! THE TORONTO DEFENSE?! ????pic.twitter.com/maPt5x37Bt
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) November 20, 2022
How to explain such a defensive error? So that, we will have to see with Nurse and her staff. One thing’s for sure, there’s been a big miscommunication to get to this point, whether it’s via Scottie Barnes mounting off-road pressure a little too freely, or young Christian Koloko rising to get in the way of Trae Young. The leader of the Hawks, author of a very big game (33 points, 12 assists) will perfectly free himself from the Canadian defense thanks to a system signed Nate McMillan… but how could he imagine seeing his rookie all alone under the basket? It was enough for Ice Trae, who this time froze his opponent in the pass. Griffin’s catch, layup at the buzzer, ball game.
This is obviously a new big moment for AJ the rookie, whose start to the season is attracting many eyes. Effective from a distance, applied defensively, the player trained at Duke had already stood out but he helped his people even more when the defeat may have fallen this Saturday. While John Collins had taken his 6 faults, it was Griffin who was sent into the lava by his coach, and the latter did not tremble. Another great evening offered by AJ Griffin, whose minutes will continue to climb if he continues at this pace. Nothing transcendent and exceptional in his game, but just a series of good decisions that are good to see for such a young player. Atlanta is taking full advantage, again.
17 points including 8 points in overtime and the 2 for victory, all this in front of the eyes of his own father who had to teach him many trickster techniques to be forgotten by the defense? That’s what you call a dream night for AJ Griffin.