A reminder on The Horry Scale: It breaks down a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) in the categories of difficulty, game situation (was the team tied or behind at the time?
* * * • Get NBA League Pass TODAY After a scoreless first quarter, it looked like a forgettable night for Trae Young.
GAME SITUATION: After Young made a pair of free throws with 8.1 seconds left, Sexton hit a contested 3 from the wing to tie the game at 121-121.
DIFFICULTY: Young has hit his share of logo 3s over the years and makes half-court shots in warmups with some regularity.
With his eyes on the rim, Young took two dribbles and used every ounce of his 164-pound frame to produce the sixth-longest game-winning buzzer-beater in NBA history.
The Horry Scale, as a reminder, divides a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) into four categories: celebration, importance (playoff game or garden-variety night in November?), game situation (was the team tied or behind at the time?), and difficulty. On a scale of 1 to 5, we then assign it an overall grade from Robert Horrys, who is named after the patroness of prayers that are answered at the last minute.
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It appeared that Trae Young’s night would be forgotten after the first quarter ended without any goals.
The exact opposite was true.
Young’s game-winning 3-pointer from beyond the half-court line gave the Atlanta Hawks a 124-121 victory over the Utah Jazz, capping an incredible 24-point, 20-assist night.
Collin Sexton, who had just tied the game with a clutch 3-pointer on a broken play, guarded Young as he took an inbounds pass, dribbled to just short of halfcourt, and hit the 49-foot winner as time ran out.
GAME SITUATION: Sexton made a contested 3-point try from the wing to tie the score at 121-121 after Young made two free throws with 8 points and 1 second remaining. Overtime seemed certain with 2:09 remaining in regulation and the Hawks out of timeouts. However, Young immediately pushed the ball up the floor and launched a prayer over Sexton after receiving the inbounds pass. The net is all that exists.
DIFFICULTY: Young makes half-court shots during warm-ups fairly frequently and has made his fair share of logo 3-pointers over the years. But this was new ground. Young used every ounce of his 164-pound body to create the sixth-longest game-winning buzzer-beater in NBA history while keeping his eyes on the rim and taking two dribbles.
CELEBRATION: Before being surrounded by his teammates at center court, Young had barely time to make his trademark “shiver” gesture before bidding farewell to the stunned fans at the Delta Center.
Young, who is the first player to record 20 assists and a game-winning buzzer-beater in the same game, stated, “I always feel like we can score when there’s time left.”.
