Atlanta sweeps back-to-back-to-back in marathon vs Jazz.
by Tracy Weissenberg / @basketballista
There’s something about overtime periods and back-to-back-to-backs with the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta started its first back-to-back-to-back this season with a triple-overtime loss against the Heat before pulling off a road win in overtime against the Bobcats, and finishing with a win (in regulation) at home against the Bulls.
For the team’s second back-to-back-to-back, the Hawks’ third game in three nights turned into an incredible four overtime marathon against the Jazz—the first quadruple OT contest in the NBA since 1997. The Hawks notched their fourth straight victory while snapping the Jazz’s six-game win streak.
Here’s some reactions to the instant classic from the Hawks’ locker room after the game.
Zaza Pachulia: 15 points, 20 rebounds, 54 minutes
On how he’s feeling:
“I’m hyped up actually, I’m just glad we won.”
On Joe Johnson’s clutch performance:
“He’s Mr. Big Shot—sorry Chauncey Billups—but he’s the new Mr. Big Shot”
Joe Johnson: 37 points, 8 rebounds, 55 minutes
On how he’s feeling:
“It’s not really that exhausting, like people would think. I know this was our third in a row, but winning cures everything. The more you win, everything else takes care of itself, you tend not to hurt as much.”
On being part of a 4OT game on the third night of a back-to-back-to-back:
“It was unbelievable, I just had to laugh it off because I just couldn’t believe it. I’d never played in a game like that.”
Willie Green: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 25 minutes
On what it was like playing in a quadruple-OT game:
“It actually was a lot of fun, especially after winning it. A lot of credit goes to Joe—he hit big shots. Everybody, pretty much. Everybody on the team came in, played well. It was good to get this win, especially being one of the few teams to win three games in a row this season. That’s tough. So it’s a credit to our coaching staff, credit to the guys in this locker room and we’ll take it. Tough, tough fought game.”
On whether the exhaustion kicks in during the game:
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’m sure. For me—myself, I wasn’t really that tired just because I hadn’t played a lot of minutes and I had missed some games previously, so I wasn’t as tired as some of the other guys, but I know the feeling. Legs are tired, mentally you’re fatigued, last game, you know you got a day off tomorrow—all that’s going through your head. So for us to be able to just gut it out and win this game is just big time for us.”
On what players do during a back-to-back-to-back:
“I try to get plenty of rest, eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and come in and just stay active, keep your legs moving, hot tub, cold tub, whatever you can do to get yourself going. You just got to stay motivated.”
Jeff Teague: 18 points, 9 assists, 53 minutes
On Joe Johnson:
“We know in the fourth quarter and overtime, we got to get him the ball, because he’s gonna make plays and he did it again.”
On what players do during a back-to-back-to-back:
“I don’t know what guys do, I just relax, do the same thing I do for every game. I don’t really get that tired when it comes to games, I’m more tired in practice.”
On playing three in a row:
“I think everybody’s a little tired, a little banged up but I think guys like playing games. And when you get out there and start competing, I think you forget about being tired and being sore, things like that, and you just play.”
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