NBA
Bogdan Bogdanovic 1st Hawks player to record 40+ points, 10+ 3-pointers in a game
James is a Basketball Insiders contributor. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. James enjoys watching sports and helping gamblers win money.
All posts by James FoglioUpdated12 Dec 2023
Bogdan Bogdanovic is the first Atlanta Hawks player in franchise history to record over 40 points and 10 3-pointers in a single game. In Atlanta’s 129-122 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, Bogdanovic notched a career-high 40 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 36 minutes off the bench.
The seven-year veteran finished 14-of-24 (58.3%) shooting from the floor and 10-of-17 (58.8%) outside the arc. Bogdanovic, 31, hit three 3s in the final two minutes. The Hawks got within 126-122 in the final minute. However, the Nuggets held off Atlanta’s comeback.
According to a couple of NBA betting sites, the Atlanta Hawks hold 18th-ranked odds to win this season’s championship. Sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Indiana Pacers.
Bogdanovic is the first player in @ATLHawks history to have 40+ points and 10+ 3PM in a single game. https://t.co/KuFCjDiUU1
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 12, 2023
Bogdanovic and Nikola Jokic were teammates on the Serbian national team that won a silver medal in the 2016 Olympics and placed fifth in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Jokic said he was excited to see his former teammate play so well without injuries.
“I think this is the first time in a long time he really moves normally and doesn’t have any pains,” Jokic said. “I remember when he had games like this when he seemed like he never missed a shot.”
Bogdanovic’s previous career high was during a 140-125 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on August 6, 2020. With the Sacramento Kings, he scored 35 points in 38 minutes as a starter.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Damian Lillard are the only active NBA players to record such a game
The only three other active NBA players with over 40 points and 10 3-pointers in a single game are Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Damian Lillard. All three recorded such performances as starters, unlike Bogdanovic.
Additionally, the Hawks guard is just the second bench player in league history to post such a game (JR Smith, twice). Smith tallied 45 points and 11 3s against the Sacramento Kings in 30 minutes as a reserve on April 13, 2009.
Smith then finished with 41 points and 10 3s in 31 minutes of action versus the Hawks on December 23, 2009. Just like Bogdanovic, he shot 10-of-17 (58.8%) from 3-point range.
Bogdan Bogdanovic was 🔥 last night:
✅ 40 PTS
✅ 14-24 FG
✅ 10-17 3PHe’s the first player in @ATLHawks history to record a 40-point game with 10 3P made, and just the second bench player in NBA history to record such a game (JR Smith, twice).
More: https://t.co/dUanpgBUTU pic.twitter.com/UogJnHd18J
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) December 12, 2023
Furthermore, Atlanta’s Trae Young scored 19 points Monday night before he was ejected when he picked up two technical fouls with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Young was upset no foul was called when Peyton Watson reached in on Young’s drive. In the end, the Hawks dropped to 9-13 for the season. Atlanta is tied at 10th in the Eastern Conference standings with the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls.
Through 22 games this season, Bogdan Bogdanovic is averaging career highs of 17.2 points and 1.4 steals. Not to mention, he’s averaging 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 27.5 minutes per game. Plus, he’s shooting 46.3% from the field, 40.3% from downtown, and a career-best 93.8% at the foul line.
NBA sportsbooks show Bogdanovic with sixth-best odds to win NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Oddsmakers are giving better odds to Austin Reaves, Tim Hardaway Jr., and other stars.
