Trae Young recorded 26 points and made six of six from three-point range as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 138-122, inflicting a second double-digit loss on LeBron James and the Lakers in as many nights.

Beginning the second half with three consecutive baskets, the Hawks seized control, extended their lead to seventeen points, and cоmpelled the Lakers to call a fast timeout.

It was not helpful. Atlanta extended its lead to 20 points, and the Lakers could not get closer than 10 throughout the remainder of the game in a contest between two teams that have purportedly been in negotiations in advance of the trade deadline next week.

At 24-25, the Lakers, who were without Anthony Davis following Monday’s 135-119 loss in Houston, fell back below.500. James added 20 points to Austin Reaves’ 28 points during a lackluster performance in front of an audience that filled the standing room.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Dejounte Murray, who recorded 24 points for the Hawks, thwarted any pretensions of a Lakers revival by making mid-range jumpers on three consecutive possessions.

It has been suggested that the Hawks guard could be transferred, as his club is seven games below.500 despite its second consecutive victory.

The Hawks received 19 points from Jalen Johnson, 18 from Bogdan Bogdanovic, and 18 from Saddiq Bey. Atlanta, which completed 52% from the field and made 16 of 38 from beyond the arc, had seven players reach double figures in scoring.

Davis was sidelined for his third game of the season due to Achilles tendon and left hip problems, as reported by the Lakers. In his stead, Jaxson Hayes made his debut and accumulated six points and six rebounds.

That was in stark contrast to Davis’s performance, in which he currently averages 12.1 rebounds and 24.9 points per game.

Additionally, concerns arose regarding whether James, age 39, would perform for consecutive evenings. However, he completed his pre-game ritual and was present in the starting lineup.

De’Andre Hunter, a forward for the Hawks, made his first appearance since December 20. He scored six points in 16 minutes off the bench. He missed 19 games due to inflammation in his right knee.