New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Hawks- Game 40

New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Hawks- Game 40

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (21-19) Atlanta Hawks (17-21)

 

Behind 32 points from Lebron James, the Lakers extended their win streak to 4 with a 134-118 win over the Hawks.

 

With Lebron James and Malik Monk both heating up lately for the Lakers, they looked to continue their success against the Hawks.  Fresh off a 56-point performance against the Trailblazers, Trae Young and the Hawks looked to improve on their subpar season.

Avery Bradley got the scoring started for the Lakers with two early threes, but Trae Young scored two early buckets as well.  At 8-6 Lakers after four minutes, Malik Monk scored 7 points on a 10-0 run.  Avery Bradley helped grow to the lead as well, posting 13 points in the first quarter as it ended with the Lakers up 6

To start the second, the Lakers remained consistent on offense, as Westbrook assisted a great pass to James for a wide-open dunk.  Talen Horton-Tucker would score from the mid-range twice, putting the Lakers up 10 in the middle of the second.  From there, Malik Monk continued to prove a reliable second option, scoring two more times from 3, and the lead built to 19 at 53-34.

While Monk was headed to a third straight game of 20 plus points, Avery Bradley hit his second three to give him 16 on the night.  However, the Hawks would not let this lead worsen, as two threes by Kevin Huerter and ten quick points for Trae Young would have the lead trimmed to just three.  Trae Young was very effective from the free point line, as he ranks 4th in that category this season.

With just 8 points in the first half for Lebron James, the half ended with the Lakers only being up by three at 64-61.  The Lakers had a nineteen-point lead at one point, but sloppy defense allowed the Hawks back in the game.  While Monk and Bradley were automatic buckets in the half, the Lakers looked to their MVP candidate in the second half.

 

The Lakers blew a nineteen-point lead, as they look to build another one to seal the win in the second half.

 

The second half began with more of the same for Monk, as he hit two more threes to start.  The Hawks appeared to lose their touch on offense, as Westbrook and James both took advantage, scoring multiple buckets to the lead.  Okongwu would then get a flagrant one foul on Carmelo Anthony, and he hit all three free throws to put them up 86-76.

THT would then have a scoring streak for himself, with a dunk and a three-pointer.  Carmelo Anthony ended the 3rd quarter with two final scores of his own, as the Lakers were dominating at this point.  The two teams headed into the fourth quarter with the Lakers up 101-87.

The fourth quarter served as one final blow for the Hawks, as Lebron James came out with a presence early.  With 15 points entering the quarter, James would score six times to give him 28, and the Lakers were up by 15 with 8 minutes to go.

The final quarter would run out as more of the same for the Hawks, as the Lakers dominated for the win.  Lebron James posted another 30-point game, but Malik Monk continued his strong play with 29 points of his own.  The Lakers had four players score 20 points or more, as the bench played well for the Lakers once again.

Now two games above .500, the Lakers are gradually climbing in the Western Standings.  Closely behind Dallas for the 5th seed, the team is clearly showing signs of improvement.

The Hawks are currently not in the playoff standings, and with this loss, they’re running out of time.  The Lakers have won most of their games against teams under .500, however, so they hope to damage the four seeded Grizzlies on Sunday.

 

The Lakers will welcome the Memphis Grizzles to Crypto.com Arena on Friday night. The game will start at 6:30 and can be seen live on Spectrum.

 

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– Duncan Dye – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Duncan on Instagram @duncan.dye42

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