Lakers dominate Hawks in late-night tip-off, ending Atlanta's winning streak. Despite strong offensive efforts, the Hawks couldn't keep pace with LA's high-octane performance.
The Atlanta Hawks have had a good trip out west so far, but they would like to forget about Tuesday night's contest against the Los Angeles Lakers, as Lebron James and company put it on the Hawks to win 141-116. Atlanta drops to 20-22, and the Lakers improved to 24-14.
Atlanta entered the night hoping to stay on track for a second sweep of a Western Conference trip this season, but that possibility faded quickly once the game tilted in Los Angeles’ favor late in the second quarter. The Hawks fell to 20-22, while the Lakers improved to 24-14 behind a dominant, wire-to-wire performance.
The game unraveled during a decisive stretch before halftime. Atlanta surrendered 44 points in the second quarter, allowing the Lakers to pile up 80 points by the break. What had been a competitive opening period turned into a lopsided affair as Los Angeles pushed the tempo, capitalized on defensive breakdowns, and consistently beat Atlanta down the floor.
LeBron James once again proved to be a problem for Atlanta. The veteran star finished with 31 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, controlling the game as both a scorer and facilitator. Luka Dončić complemented him with 27 points, five rebounds and 12 assists, giving the Lakers a steady second engine throughout the night.
The Hawks entered the contest shorthanded, playing without Zaccharie Risacher, Luke Kennard and Kristaps Porziņģis. There is optimism internally that Kennard and Risacher could rejoin the lineup Thursday, but their status remains uncertain.
Los Angeles also had questions coming in. Austin Reaves did not play, and James was listed as questionable prior to tipoff. Any thought of Atlanta gaining an edge from that uncertainty disappeared quickly. Jake LaRavia stepped into the rotation and delivered 17 points, helping the Lakers maintain offensive balance from the opening minutes.
Atlanta briefly showed signs of life after halftime. Trailing by as many as 32 points in the third quarter, the Hawks chipped away at the deficit with improved ball movement and defensive activity. They managed to cut the margin in half by the end of the frame and pulled within 11 during the fourth, generating stops and pushing the pace.
The momentum stalled abruptly. After forcing a steal during that run, Atlanta missed a dunk that drained the energy from the building and the bench. Los Angeles responded with a decisive 20-6 surge over the next five minutes, stretching the lead to 127-103 and effectively ending the night. Atlanta emptied the bench soon after.
Offensively, the Hawks had a few bright spots despite the outcome. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the way with 26 points, knocking down five 3-pointers. CJ McCollum added 25 points on 11 made field goals, while Corey Kispert scored 19 points in 26 minutes off the bench.
McCollum and Kispert also provided a highlight moment early, each connecting on their first 3-pointer in a Hawks uniform after combining to go 0-for-7 from deep in their Atlanta debut Sunday against Golden State. McCollum sparked it by saving a loose ball and pulling up from well beyond the arc, while Kispert later tied the game at 42 on a kick-out from Dyson Daniels.
Jalen Johnson was held to 13 points in a quiet night, as Atlanta struggled to generate consistent stops after showing defensive improvement over the previous seven games. While scoring 116 points is typically enough to stay competitive, the Hawks simply could not match the Lakers’ pace or efficiency.
Atlanta will look to regroup quickly. The Hawks conclude their four-game road trip Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers before returning home to face the Celtics and Bucks.