NBA: Young and the Hawks have the last word against the Lakers deprived of James

Confirming its ascending form, Atlanta, still carried by Trae Young author of 36 points, had the last word (129-121) on the Lakers, still deprived of LeBron James, Sunday in the NBA while the Clippers walked in Charlotte ( 115-90).

This 7th success in a row took shape in the « money-time » for the Hawks (10th in the East), when Young (also 12 assists and 5 rebounds) further raised his level of play. He planted a banderille behind the arc to restore the advantage (112-110) to his family, without LA managing to reverse it, despite a great performance from Malik Monk (33 pts, 8/14 at long distance, 10 rebounds, 5 passes).

John Collins (20 pts, 11 rbds) and Onyeka Okongwu (16 pts), the « X factor » coming off the bench with two important dunks in the last minutes, also contributed to the victory of Atlanta, finally back, apparently. he, at his level of last season, when the Hawks reached the conference final (beaten by Milwaukee).

It’s not just the Hawks who are forced to rise in the standings, because the Lakers, after this third consecutive defeat, are stuck in 9th place in the West, which is also in the play-off position for the play-offs. .

They were not unworthy in this match, even leading by 11 lengths in the wake of Anthony Davis (27 pts) and Russell Westbrook (20 pts, 12 assists). But the absence of James, who returned to Los Angeles to treat a swelling in his right knee, weighed at the end of the match, when he usually takes responsibility.

In the other midday meeting, in Charlotte, the Clippers showed an excellent collective performance, in the persistent absence of their stars Kawhi Leonard (knee), Paul George (elbow), and Nicolas Batum (back).

More than half of the points were scored by the bench (62 against 21 for the Hornets), Brandon Boston Jr scoring 19, as did offensive leader Reggie Jackson.

The Lakers remain 7th in the West, as does Charlotte in the East, where Chicago retains its 2nd place after its victory (130-116) at the expense of Portland, its 31st of the season, already the same total than in the previous year.

The Bulls were very skilful (56.8% success), like Nikola Vucevic (24 pts at 11/15, 14 rebounds) and DeMar DeRozan (23 pts, at 9/13, 10 assists), facing to Blazers (10th in the West) guided by CJ McCollum (29 pts).