The Hawks have won their seventh straight game. Atlanta was able to rally from an 11-point deficit in the 4th quarter to top the Los Angeles Lakers with a 129-121 victory at home Sunday. Atlanta split the season series with the Lakers, with both teams winning on their own home courts. With a win Monday night against the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta can potentially surpass both the Boston Celtics (who would need to lose to Miami) and Raptors all the way to the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed.
The way the Hawks were able to win this game reminded everyone of the Eastern Conference Finals team from last season, with an emphatic fourth quarter rally to send LA back home with another loss. Led by Trae Young’s stellar performance of 36 points and 12 assists, Atlanta fought for every possession in a nail-bitter. Young shot 54.5% from the field overall and 40% from three-point land. In this game, Young tied Michael Jordan for fifth all-time for most 30-point and 10-assist games in NBA History. Elite company for the young superstar that still has the best of his game ahead of him.
While the Hawks played fairly good defense in the fourth, Malik Monk once again torched Atlanta with his three-point shooting, finishing the game with 33 points. Onyeka Onkongwus’ great performances usually revolve around his defense, however, it was his offensive talent at the end of the game that won it for Atlanta. He had three dunks in the final six minutes of the game, one of which was a one-handed poster on Laker’s forward, Anthony Davis.
John Collins also had another double-double game, dropping 20 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes of action. His offensive game has been on display the last few games, as the Hawks have run numerous plays for him in the post.
Coming off of a back-to-back set, Atlanta will need all of what has propelled them on this winning-streak to come out with a win on Monday. Atlanta plays Toronto twice this week, once on Monday and once on Friday in Toronto. Toronto is entering this game after Saturday’s triple-overtime affair in Miami. Tip-off for Monday’s game is at 7:30pm eastern from State Farm Arena.
