Bogdan Bogdanovic has etched his name in the history books of the NBA in golden letters.
The Serbian national team captain became the fourth player in NBA history to hit at least one three-pointer in 100 consecutive games. He surpassed Utah Jazz player Jordan Clarkson and moved up to fifth place on that list, as Stephen Curry is on the list twice. The greatest shooter of all time has connected on at least one three-pointer in 268 consecutive games and holds the first place, and also holds the second place with 157 consecutive games.
Third place belongs to Damian Lillard with 150 consecutive games, followed by Kyle Korver with 127, and after him, Bogdan Bogdanovic with 100 consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer. The former Partizan, Fenerbahce, and Sacramento Kings player has not played a game without scoring a three-pointer since March 17, 2023.
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He finished the game with 20 points. He shot 3/4 from two, 4/9 from three, and 2/3 from the free-throw line. He added six rebounds and an assist in a night he will surely remember. The Hawks defeated the Lakers in overtime – 134:132. He entered the game with a little less than four minutes remaining in the first quarter, missed his first three-point shot, but made the second and thus made history. He hit another three-pointer and one long two-pointer by the end of the first half, which he finished with eight points, and spent the last four minutes of the quarter on the bench. Atlanta managed to erase the deficit from the first quarter and with Jaylen Johnson’s points three seconds before the end of the first half, they tied the game, so it was tied at halftime.
Bogdan quickly entered the third quarter, after just two minutes of play, after replacing this year’s first pick, Zachary Rishar. He drew a foul from Rui Hachimura on a three-point shot and hit two free throws, then another long two-pointer. He missed three shots after that and with eight seconds left in the third quarter, Dyson Daniels replaced him, and Atlanta had a three-point deficit heading into the final 12 minutes.
He immediately replaced the same player at the start of the fourth quarter and found his touch – he hit one easily on the drive and a three-pointer assisted by Trae Young, which gave the Hawks a comeback and a lead. Young set him up for another three-pointer and Bogdanovic lit up the Lakers, but he had to come out with four minutes left to rest as he had played 29 minutes. On the court, he was only surpassed by Trae Young.
In Bogdanovic’s absence, the Lakers, led by LeBron and Davis, came back and drama ensued in Georgia. There was a real seesaw of scores in the final minutes. The young Hawks attacked the Lakers’ guard, where LeBron played as if he were in a Miami Heat jersey at the beginning of the last decade, and the home players as if they were his biggest opponents years later from the Warriors. In the last minute, thanks to James and Brow, the Lakers entered with a one-point advantage and possession, so JJ Redick called a timeout with 53 seconds left to find the right play that could decide this game. LeBron missed a three-pointer, which would have put them up by four, which Deandre Hunter punished. Young missed a floater, Daniels grabbed an offensive rebound and passed the ball to Hunter, who hits a three-pointer for a one-point lead. With 12 seconds left, LeBron tied the game with a layup, so Quin Snyder called a timeout to draw up a play for the Hawks’ victory. Bogdanovic entered the game and was one of the options for the last shot, which the Lakers certainly expected. In the end, it came down to Tre Young taking the last shot, who wanted to settle everything with a three-pointer, but Max Christie blocked him and they went into overtime.
It was no less tense in overtime. Although Atlanta opened with four consecutive points, the Lakers soon returned and the scoreboard seesawed again, as in the end of regulation time. Anthony Davis gave them a three-point lead with 42 seconds left, and then the Serbian representative returned to the game, and Johnson with two free throws brought the Hawks to one point behind. James lost the ball, but with 25 seconds left, he reminded everyone how he hit the best block of all time on Andre Iguodala in the seventh game of the 2016 NBA Finals. He caught up with Dyson Daniels and blocked him, and on top of that, the ball bounced off the guard, so it was an attack for the Lakers. The Hawks decided to defend the attack and that was a good decision because Davis lost the ball, so they had 19 seconds for the last attack. With eight seconds left, Trae Young made up for his missed shot at the end of regulation and hit a three-pointer for a +2 lead. James missed a three-pointer on the next possession and the Hawks won in an incredible game.
The Hawks’ hero, Trae Young, was the best with 31 points (4/15 from two, 5/13 from three, 8/8 free throws), along with 20 assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Deandre Hunter added 26, the aforementioned Bogdan Bogdanovic 20, Onyeka Okongwu 15, and Jaylen Johnson 12 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. On the other side, LeBron James had a triple-double of 39 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, along with two steals and three blocks. Anthony Davis recorded 38 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
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Source: Mozzarsport, Photo: AFP