Redick praises LeBron James' dedication after the Lakers snap their losing streak with a dominant 141-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their three-game losing streak on Tuesday night with a 141-116 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, and head coach JJ Redick had strong words for anyone who questions LeBron James' dedication to the game.
James played in his first back-to-back of the season despite being listed as questionable, and he delivered a near triple-double performance that helped the Lakers (24-14) put together one of their best shooting nights of the year against the Hawks (20-22).
Redick Calls Out James' Critics
After the game, Redick was asked about his decision to have James suit up for the second night of a back-to-back, and his response turned into a defense of his 41-year-old star.
He pointed to how much James cares about the game while calling out those who criticize him.
"It's unfortunate how much this guy puts into it and how much he cares, and the way certain people talk about him," Redick said. "It's crazy. Come be around him every day and see how much this guy cares. It's off the charts."
Redick also noted that the decision to play was entirely up to James himself and that the team did not expect him to be available after playing 33 minutes in Monday's loss to the Sacramento Kings.
James went through his normal pregame routine and felt good enough to go, which Redick described as remarkable for someone in their 23rd NBA season.
Lakers Catch Fire From Deep
The Lakers shot 58 percent from the floor and 56 percent from three-point range in the win, which was a huge turnaround from their struggles in recent games.
Luka Doncic had his best three-point shooting performance in weeks, going 5-for-9 from deep while finishing with 27 points and 12 assists.
James finished with 31 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, falling just one rebound short of a triple-double while shooting 12-of-20 from the field.
Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia each added 17 points as the Lakers built a lead as large as 32 points in the third quarter before the Hawks made a late push.
The connection between James and Doncic continues to improve, and the duo combined for 58 points in the blowout victory.
Looking Ahead
The Lakers now turn their attention to a homestand that begins Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets before hosting the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
After their recent struggles against the Kings, Los Angeles will need to keep shooting the ball well if they want to stay in the top five of the Western Conference standings.
With the win, the Lakers improved to 24-14 and sit fifth in the West.
The team has relied heavily on the chemistry between James and Doncic to carry them through stretches without Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, who have both missed time with calf injuries.
If the Lakers can maintain their offensive firepower, they have a good chance to stack wins against easier opponents before their schedule gets tougher in February.