Sluggish Lakers Fall to Short-Handed Hawks, Ending Winning Streak
Luka Doncic contributed 22 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds in 27 minutes, but the Los Angeles Lakers dropped a 122-102 game to the Atlanta Hawks, who played without four starters.
Game Overview
Before the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick stressed the importance of not underestimating the depleted Hawks, who were missing four starters and five main rotation players. Despite this warning, the Lakers failed to match the energy and focus required, as the Hawks secured a convincing victory.
This loss snapped the Lakers' five-game winning streak and was their first on the road this season, moving their record to 7-3 overall and 4-1 away from Crypto.com Arena.
Team and Player Performances
- Redick remarked,
“Just not a lot to like [on Saturday night].”
- Doncic led the Lakers with 22 points, shooting 4-for-10 from three-point range, along with 11 assists and five rebounds.
- He also struggled at times, accounting for five of the team's 20 turnovers.
- Marcus Smart scored five points with two assists and two turnovers during his 21 minutes on the court.
Neither Doncic nor Smart were available to comment after the game.
Context on Lakers’ Season Start
The Lakers’ strong start this season came despite the absence of star forward LeBron James, who has yet to play in any game, and other key players missing several matches early on.
“Definitely” not overlooking short-handed opponents was a key message from Coach Redick.
However, the team’s failure to adhere to this was clear from the opening minutes of the game.
Summary
The Lakers suffered a significant home-court test, losing focus against an undermanned Hawks squad and ending their winning streak with a clear defeat.
Author's summary: The Lakers' lack of intensity led to a surprising road defeat against a depleted Hawks team, snapping their five-game winning streak early in the season.