By Tiffany Williams –
The Atlanta Hawks were back home at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta Saturday night. The Hawks, who have only played five games at home in the month of January, were defeated by the LA Clippers 120-113. Saturday’s game was the final matchup between Atlanta and LA for the season.
The Hawks entered Saturday’s match with an 8-5 record in the month of January, including a 6-2 clip in their last eight outings. In those 13 games this month, the club is averaging 120.3 points on .513 FG%, .381 3FG% and .825 FT%. In the month, Atlanta ranks first in the NBA in FG%, fifth in FT% (fourth in the East) and fifth in points per game (second in the East).
Saturday night’s major contributor of the game was Trae Young, who played 36 minutes, put 31 points on the board, had five rebounds and ten assists. With his first defensive rebound of the game, Trae Young had his 1,000th career defensive board. Young now has tallied 10-or-more points and five-or-more assists in 57 straight games, tied with Russell Westbrook for the fifth-longest such streak in NBA history.Saturday night was also his fourth straight 20+ point, 10+ assist outing, 114th career 20/10 game, and his 59th career outing of 30+ points and 10+ assists.
Clint Capela, who played just 28 minutes Saturday night, put twelve points on the board, had had thirteen rebounds and two assists. Capela registered his 20th double-double of the season, the 242nd of his career.
Dejounte Murray, who played 39 minutes Saturday night, put 15 points on the board, had six rebounds and eight assists. Murray buried his 2,000th career field goal, with his first bucket of the game.
Next up the Atlanta Hawks hit the road yet again, heading back to the West Coast for a five-game trip. The Hawks will face off against Portland (1/30), Phoenix (2/1), Utah (2/3), Denver (2/4) and New Orleans (2/7).
Atlanta Sports Journal 