Dyson Daniels’ Atlanta Hawks survived a combined 77-point explosion from LeBron James and Anthony Davis to outlast the Lakers at home in a 134-132 chaotic overtime win.
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James recorded his seventh triple-double for the season with 39 points, seven triples, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and three blocks, while Davis wasn’t far off a triple-double himself with 38 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists plus eight assists.
But Trae Young had the last laugh, hitting the game-winning three to cap off a monster 31-point, 20-assist performance to lead Atlanta to its sixth-straight win to improve to 13-11.
Daniels added 11 points, five assists and four steals including coming up with some clutch plays late in regulation and overtime amid a crazy game that had over 35 lead changes.
“The versatility they have defensively is really important,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said of Daniels and De’Andre Hunter post-match.
“When you see those guys working like that and you’re out there, you want to do your part. You can feel it. That makes other guys pick up their level.
“Whether that’s blocking out, getting a rebound, rotating or contesting a shot, all those little things that both those guys do. They’re really consistent, whether it’s off the ball or on the ball, they bring that every night.”
The Aussie provided a first-quarter highlight, craftily kicking out to a Zaccharie Risacher triple as part of a hotly contested period where the visitors took an early 29-26 lead, with James and Davis in the thick of it.
Hawks commentator Bob Rathbun in the second term noted “one thing opponents are finding out about Dyson Daniels is relentless is hard to deal with,” with the Aussie at his menacing best on the defensive end.
Atlanta looked capable of getting some separation on the Lakers late in the second term before Davis got hot jus before half-time as the scored were all tied up at 64 apiece at the main break.
James stunned the Hawks crowd with an epic play early in the second term, going around a Davis screen on Daniels and spectacularly hitting a one-legged 3-pointer.
Young got hot in the third term with 15 of his X points.
It included the Hawks stud stealing a Davis pass to James just ahead of midcourt and burying a huge 3-pointer to get the Hawks within one.
“The Dyson Daniels effect, everyone thinking steals and defence,” Rathbun noted.
Fellow Hawks commentator Dominique Wilkins responded: “Contagious man.”
The two sides remained deadlocked throughout the quarter, with several lead changes but neither team getting ahead by any more than four points.
James knocked down a big 3-pointer with 4:11 remaining to give the Lakers a 109-108 lead.
Things got testy between James and Hunter in the late stages of the game, briefly causing teammates and officials to intervene to ease tensions.
LA committed a fourth-straight foul with over three minutes left, sending Atlanta to the foul line for the remainder of the game.
Daniels stepped up late with a clutch three before drawing an offensive foul on an illegal screen from Davis.
The Aussie then hit a shot in the lane to give the Hawks a 116-115 lead in a huge stretch from the 21-year old before Davis slammed down an alley-oop dunk at the other end.
Down the other end, Daniels fought through a Davis screen to ensure James couldn’t get an ideal look beyond the arc, missing a 33-foot jumper from directly in front.
The Aussie then grabbed an offensive rebound off a Young missed and passed to Hunter’s 3-pointer.
But a James layup followed by Max Christie blocking Young’s shot on the buzzer sent the game to overtime.
It was worrying scenes on the full-time buzzer and James laid on the ground holding his knee after appearing to bang knees with Davis, but he returned for the extra period.
The two teams again traded buckets in overtime including threes to James and Gabe Vincent in consecutive Lakers possessions inside the last 2:13.
Daniels got the Hawks within one with a floater in the lane with 1:24 remaining before Davis extended the Lakers lead back out to 132-129 with a step back jumper.
In two of the huge defensive plays of the game with under 30 seconds left, Daniels picked off a Davis pass to James and ran a fast break, but was met at the rim by James in a huge block.
A review found it was last touched off Daniels, giving the ball back to LA.
At the other end, Daniels helped lock up Davis with two other Hawks defenders for a jump ball — a possession Atlanta won off a Daniels steal with the Lakers leading 132-131.
It led to Young’s game-winning triple before James’ outside miss at the other end sealed the result — LA’s third-straight loss to fall to 12-11.
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