WHAT HAPPENED: The shorthanded Hawks made their first six shots and needed fewer than three minutes to take a 13-2 lead. Bones Hyland helped the Nuggets cut the deficit to three at the end of the first after hitting a deep 3-pointer just before the buzzer. The Hawks finished the first half on a 16-6 run to lead 60-46 at halftime. A dominant effort from Nikola Jokic to start the second half helped the Nuggets take their first lead of the night late in the third, but the Hawks closed on a 12-2 run and led by nine to start the fourth. Denver closed within three points with five minutes left but failed to regain the lead and dropped to 14-8.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: Hyland looked healthy in his return after missing four games due to illness. Hyland’s nine-point first quarter helped make up for the starters’ sluggish first stint. He finished with 16 points on 11 shots with two rebounds and two assists. His four turnovers were the only sign of any rust.

WHAT WENT WRONG: Denver had to know Dejounte Murray was going to be Atlanta’s primary option, but the Nuggets still had no answer. Murray made 13 of his 22 shots and scored a game-high 34 points. When he wasn’t scoring, he was setting up his teammates. He finished with eight assists with just one turnover.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT: With just over four minutes left in the third quarter, Bruce Brown’s contest helped force a missed shot from the corner. Jokic snagged the rebound and threw it ahead to Brown down the left side. Brown lobbed a pass above the right side of the rim, and Kentavious Caldwell-pope rose up to put down the alley-oop, bringing the Nuggets within a point.

ON DECK: The Nuggets head to New Orleans for Sunday afternoon’s game against the Pelicans.