Terribly irregular this season, the Hawks receive the Clippers in the hope of not chaining a third consecutive defeat, after the end of missed games against the Bucks and the Pistons. Facing the teammates of Nicolas Batum, firmly clinging to 8th place in the Western Conference despite injuries and various absences which have weakened them for weeks, the task promises to be difficult.
But Trae Young and his team delivered an inconsistent match, marked by a first quarter with the pedal to the metal then a second quarter in slow motion, before delivering a consistent second half, and in particular a well-managed end to the match, unlike the “money-time” catastrophe against Milwaukee and Detroit. They won by a small gap (112-106), symbol of a contested match, but in which the Hawks had that little something extra necessary to win.
Author of a very big game, Trae Young signs a consistent double-double (27 points at 8/17 and 11 assists), including several decisive free throws at the end of the match (10/12 in total). Clint Capela also offers himself a double-double, in points and rebounds (14 and 11), to respond to the heavy activity of his direct opponent from the Clippers, Ivica Zubac (24 points and 12 rebounds).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
The expulsion of Marcus Morris. Very angry with the referees after a whistled foul against him during the third quarter, the Clippers winger received two technical fouls in a few seconds, synonymous with expulsion. The lip-reading experts will certainly have deciphered the content of the message sent by the player to the referees, who asked him to go and see the rest of the match in the locker room.
Danilo Gallinari’s good momentum continues. The Italian winger is going through the best momentum of his season: author of 13 points at 5/12 (and 6 rebounds), he exceeds the 10 points scored for the 6th consecutive time, and the 9th in 10 matches. Of these 10 matches, the Hawks have won 6 times and the offensive boost brought out of the bench by “Gallo” is certainly no stranger to it.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Trae Young. The Hawks would probably have lost this game without the XXL score of their conductor. Impeccable in his game readings, he alternated perfectly between his points (27 points at 8/17) and services for his teammates (11 assists). Above all, he feasted on the line of throws (10/12), symbol of an aggressiveness towards the circle which complicated the life of the Clippers.
✅ Reggie Jackson. Without Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, the point guard has a clear field in attack. Faced with Trae Young’s score, the former OKC and Detroit player was not left out either: he compiled 24 points (9/20), 5 rebounds and 5 assists and distinguished himself on “pick -and-roll”. Only downside: 5 lost balls, which mostly resulted in “free” points from the Hawks behind.
✅ The duel of pivots. Ivica Zubac and Clint Capela fought a huge duel: each signed a double-double, 24 points and 12 rebounds for the first, 14 points and 11 rebounds, and imposed their presence in front of their circle (2 against each). Limited offensively, the two men mainly benefited from the services of their teammates, in particular a sharp Trae Young on “pick-and-roll” for the first, and Reggie Jackson and Luke Kennard for the second.
⛔️ The 3-dot address. 42. This is the total number of outside shots missed by both teams tonight. The Clippers have failed 20 times (12/32), the Hawks once more (9/31). Apart from the drill specialists (Luke Kennard at 3/3 and Kevin Huerter at 4/8), the players did not particularly shine with their skill and some really missed each other (1/6 for Marcus Morris, 1/ 7 for Bogdan Bogdanovic).
THE FOLLOWING
Atlanta (32-24): Sunday, reception of the Pacers
LA Clippers (35-34): following the “road-trip” in Cleveland, Monday
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