Hawks Flying High, Win Sixth Straight, As Trae Young Delivers OT Dagger To Sink Lakers

The Hawks are heating up, folks. Trae Young’s clutch 3-pointer with 7.4 seconds left in overtime capped off a gritty 134-132 win against the Lakers. It’s Atlanta’s sixth straight victory, their longest streak since 2022, and they’re playing like a team that believes it can compete with anyone.

Meanwhile, the Lakers? Let’s just say they’re having a week. LeBron James (39 points) and Anthony Davis (38 points) did everything short of selling popcorn at Crypto.com Arena, but even their combined brilliance couldn’t stop this skid. Three straight losses, seven in nine games—it’s rough in Lakerland.

Let’s Talk About Trae

First, give Young his flowers. His stat line—31 points, 12 assists—isn’t unusual, but the moment was. Trae hasn’t always had the “clutch” label attached to his name, but this is the kind of game where narratives shift. He wasn’t just a scorer; he orchestrated Atlanta’s offense like a maestro, finding guys like De’Andre Hunter (26 points) and Bogdan Bogdanović (20 points) in the right spots all night.

And that dagger? Pure Trae. A step-back triple with ice water in his veins.

Hawks Are Flying High

What’s got Atlanta clicking? Defense. Well, sometimes. But mostly, depth. This wasn’t a one-man show, and it hasn’t been during this streak. The Hawks’ bench outscored the Lakers’ reserves 65-17. Yes, you read that right. That’s how you win close games.

Hunter has been phenomenal, bringing scoring and defense while Bogdanović’s shooting keeps defenses honest. And let’s not overlook Dyson Daniels — two huge defensive plays in the final minute of OT. A steal and a tie-up against Anthony Davis? That’s not just hustle; that’s game-winning stuff.

Lakers: Close, But No Cigar

For L.A., it was an effort, and let’s be honest, after their last two games (a combined 70-point beatdown), that’s progress. But moral victories don’t count in the standings.

LeBron and AD? They were as dominant as you’d expect. But where’s the help? The Lakers’ bench was MIA, and that’s putting it lightly. Max Christie had a key block on Young to end regulation, but you can’t ask him to do much more when the second unit gets blitzed like this.

Also, let’s talk about that final possession in OT. James’s 3-point attempt? It wasn’t the look you wanted if you’re L.A. Down two, you need something going toward the rim—or at least a cleaner shot. But when your stars are exhausted, decision-making slips.

Trae for the game in OT. The Atlanta Hawks are unstoppable right now. pic.twitter.com/hA5AVImgMs

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) December 7, 2024

The Takeaway

The Hawks are surging, proving they’re more than just Trae Young’s team. With contributions from everywhere and a gritty mindset, they’re looking like a playoff lock in the East.

The Lakers? Well, it’s hard to win when you’re top-heavy, and this loss showcased the gap between their stars and everyone else. LeBron and AD can’t do it all, and right now, L.A.’s supporting cast is giving them nothing.

For Atlanta, this win is momentum. For L.A., it’s a reminder: depth matters, and the trade deadline might come calling sooner than they think.

• More NBA | Available free agents