The Atlanta Hawks secured a thrilling 134-132 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, fueled by Trae Young’s clutch 3-pointer with 7.4 seconds remaining. The win extended Atlanta’s streak to six games, improving their record to 13-11.
Young led the Hawks with 31 points and 20 assists, countering a combined 77-point performance from LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
James scored 39 points, while Davis added 38, but their efforts weren’t enough to prevent the Lakers (12-11) from suffering their third consecutive loss.
In a dramatic finish, James missed a potential game-winning three-pointer in the closing seconds of overtime. Earlier, the Lakers had a chance to clinch the game in regulation, but Max Christie’s block on Young’s shot sent the contest into an extra period.
Atlanta capitalized on key defensive plays by Dyson Daniels in overtime. Daniels forced a critical turnover and tied up Davis for a jump ball in the final minute. Though Davis won the tip, Los Angeles failed to secure possession, setting the stage for Young’s decisive shot.
The Hawks’ bench played a crucial role, outscoring the Lakers’ reserves 65-17. De’Andre Hunter contributed 26 points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic added 20. Atlanta’s depth helped offset a challenging night for their starters, with Clint Capela and Zaccharie Risacher combining for just 15 points.
The Lakers entered the game following back-to-back losses by a combined 70 points, the worst in franchise history. Despite the defeat, their competitive performance marked a stark improvement. James also recorded a triple-double with 11 rebounds and 11 assists, while Davis chipped in 10 rebounds and 8 assists.
Atlanta showed resilience throughout the game, overcoming a six-point deficit in the third quarter. Their three-point shooting, led by Young and Hunter, proved decisive as they shot 42.5% from beyond the arc compared to Los Angeles’ 45.7%.
For the Lakers, Max Christie added nine points off the bench, and Rui Hachimura scored 12. However, the limited contributions from their role players hindered their ability to close out the game.
