Last year, just hours after receiving the news of Kobe Bryant's tragic passing, Trae Young dropped 45 and dished out 14 assists in a 152-133 win against the Washington Wizards.
On Tuesday, which marked the one year anniversary of that crash, he did more of the same - this time against the LA Clippers.
He scored 26 (8-13 FGs; 7-7 FTs) of his game-high 38 points in the second half including this clutch dagger, with two minutes left, which pretty much sealed it.
Trae makes the logo three and holds up 24. 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/00lPRirGsF
— NBA (@NBA) January 27, 2021
"One thing I think about when I think of Kobe is big shots, being able to close out games and hit big shots in big moments," Young said postgame on throwing up 24 and paying homage to the Black Mamba after that deep 3.
"Late in the game, that was a big shot for our team. That was the first thing I thought of."
"The thing I take away the most is he stuck to his values throughout everything whether it’s in his playing days or outside of it," Young said postgame on his memories of Bryant.
"𝗛𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁."
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) January 27, 2021
– Trae Young, on his memories of Kobe pic.twitter.com/uJAo8ze0OF
He was one of five players in double figures for the Hawks - all starters - as they clawed back from a first-half deficit against a shorthanded LA Clippers squad.
The Los Angeles franchise, who were missing their All-Star duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George due to health and safety protocols, were going toe-to-toe with the Hawks in the first half. In fact, close to intermission, LA held its largest lead of seven (48-41).
On a mission in transition.@Reggie_Jackson | @sergeibaka pic.twitter.com/rIuNeQ4F5N
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 27, 2021
Then, in the second half, Young found his groove and turned it on. Clint Capela, who recorded his seventh straight double-double (13 PTS, 19 REBS) while also recording two steals and two blocks, was the other major contributor for the hosts.
As a team, the Hawks recorded great shooting splits in the second half - 23-of-41 (56.1%) from the field, 9-of-19 (47.1) from beyond the arc, and 10-of-11 (90.9) from the free-throw line - to spark the turnaround.
The 108-99 victory is the Hawks' fourth in their last five games and helps them to improve to 9-8 - good for sixth in the East. They suit up in less than 24 hours to host the star-studded Brooklyn Nets.
On the other hand, the Clippers - who were led by Reggie Jackson's all-round contribution with 20 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds - will continue their huge six-game road trip in Miami after a day off.
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