Malik Monk, with 7 triples, and LeBron James, with 17 points in the fourth quarter, struck down on Friday at the Atlanta Hawks (134-118) and allowed Los angeles lakers add his fourth consecutive victory to continue climbing positions in the West.
Monk (29 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists) and James (32 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists) were just the tip of a very choral night for the Lakers in which Avery Bradley also stood out (21 points and 6 rebounds), Talen Horton-Tucker (21 points and 5 assists), Carmelo Anthony (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Russell Westbrook (9 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists).
Delivered in the last matches to the faith of the “small ball” without Anthony Davis, the Lakers with LeBron as center ran wonderfully on the counterattack (28 points after the 15 losses the Hawks), they only lost 8 balls and shot quite well (49.5% in field goals and 41.5% in triples).
The Atlanta Hawks, weighed down by their losses and their weak success in the triples (36.1%) and the free ones (70.4%), counted as main references Trae Young (25 points, 9 rebounds and 14 assists) and John Collins (21 points and 8 rebounds)
MONK BEGINS THE PARTY …
Avery Bradley He learned before the game that the Lakers will guarantee his contract until the end of the season and he celebrated it with two triples as soon as the game started.
The Hawks began with doubts and little attitude while the Lakers came out to bite with several counterattacks of Malik Monk to distance themselves very soon (18-6 in the absence of 7.15).
However, the king of the first room was Bradley, overwhelming with 13 points (5 of 6 in shots) against a defense of the Hawks excessively contemplative (34-28).
But in defense they were still a ruin and the Angelenos, very dynamic and ready to stampede to counterattack at any time, opened a remarkable lead with 5 points followed by an excellent Monk (47-34 with 7.59 at the break).
Malik Monk y Avery Bradley they kept hitting triples, Russell Westbrook I finally found the route to the hoop, and reservations as Austin Reaves y Dwight Howard they joined the party without clashing.
Those in purple and gold came to win 19, but a very unruly Trae Young and a Kevin Huerter Accurate from the triple (4 of 5) they put the Hawks back into the game (64-61).
Despite their forceful and meritorious reaction, the Hawks could not tarnish the exceptional first half of a Monk touched by the gods (21 points with 8 of 9 in shooting and 5 of 6 in triples).
The Lakers’ bet on the bottom five was clearly reflected in the statistics: they shot quite effectively (50% from the field goal) but lost the rebound (22 vs. 28).
… AND LEBRON THE FINISH
The passage through the locker room did not affect Monk at all, who made two more triples for a 9-0 run in less than two minutes (73-61 with 10.12 to be played).
But the Hawks didn’t break down: Collins and Capela they took the steamroller through the unprotected local area and drew a 0-8 run (73-69 with 7.57 missing).
The Lakers were very clear that defending and running was the way to victory so James and Westbrook they added fuel to the boiler (83-76 with 4.42 on the clock).
However, they were Talen Horton-Tucker, with 10 points in two minutes and a devastating mate on Onyeka Okongwu, and Carmelo Anthony, with two consecutive triples, which certified Los Angeles superiority in the third quarter (87-101).
The Lakers figure also wanted to be the protagonist and added 13 points in four fantastic minutes (116-101 with 8.01 to go).
Those from Atlanta reached 10 points with 5 minutes to go, but two triples from Anthony y Bradley and a rabid mate from Lebron again on the counterattack closed a great victory for the Lakers.
