Dejounte Murray and Bruno Fernando lead Atlanta Hawks to dominant victory over Charlotte Hornets

NEW DELHI: Dejounte Murray and Bruno Fernando led the charge for the Atlanta Hawks in their dominant 132-91 victory over the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, ending Atlanta's two-game losing streak and extending the Hornets' losing streak to four games.Murray showcased his versatility with 28 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds, and five steals, shooting an impressive 7-for-9 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Fernando delivered a career-high performance off the bench with 25 points, accompanied by six rebounds and a block.Garrison Matthews contributed a season-high 20 points for the Hawks, while Clint Capela secured his 31st double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.With this win, the Hawks solidified their position in the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference, now holding a 5 1/2 game lead over the Brooklyn Nets for the final spot in the play-in tournament.On the other side, the Hornets were led by Miles Bridges, who scored 27 points, and Nick Richards, who added 12 points and an impressive 16 rebounds.Despite Bridges' efforts to keep the Hornets in the game, Atlanta surged ahead, particularly in the second quarter, where they orchestrated an 11-0 run to break open a tie and establish a commanding lead. Fernando's stellar first-half performance, contributing 13 points, played a significant role in Atlanta's 66-48 halftime advantage.Although the Hornets managed to trim the deficit to 10 points early in the third quarter with an 8-0 run, the Hawks quickly regrouped and extended their lead once again. By the end of the third quarter, Atlanta had built a commanding 99-74 lead.The victory marked Atlanta's first win against the Hornets this season and ended their four-game losing streak against Charlotte. The two teams are set to face off again on April 10 in Atlanta.Looking ahead, the Hornets will conclude their four-game road trip with a matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, while the Hawks will continue their five-game homestand with a game against the Boston Celtics on the same day.(Inputs from Reuters)