At a Glance
- LeBron James posted 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a triple-double in his 23rd season.
- The Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 25-point rout of the Hawks.
- Luka Doncic added 27 points and 12 assists despite playing with left groin soreness.
- Why it matters: The win keeps the Lakers from their second four-game skid since acquiring Doncic nearly a year ago.
The Los Angeles Lakers roared past the Atlanta Hawks 141-116 on Tuesday night, ending a three-game slide behind a near triple-double from LeBron James and a dominant second-quarter surge.
LeBron Flirts With History
James, playing the second half of his first back-to-back set this season, finished one rebound shy of a triple-double. The 40-year-old’s line-31 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds-was his closest brush with a triple-double since last Feb. 1 in New York. That game, coincidentally, preceded the Lakers’ blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic later the same night.
“Every night he steps on the floor he’s making history,” coach JJ Redick said afterward. “Tonight was another example.”
Doncic Ignites Second-Quarter Blast
Doncic, listed as questionable with left groin soreness, drilled three straight 3-pointers to spark a 17-0 Lakers run late in the second quarter. The spurt turned a competitive game into a 32-point Lakers lead early in the third.
The 25-year-old finished with 27 points and 12 assists, shooting 6-of-11 from deep. It was his 18th game of 25-plus points and 10-plus assists since joining the Lakers-more than any other player in that span.
Bench Production Bolsters Blowout
Corey Kispert and Deandre Ayton each scored 17 points, combining to hit 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. The Lakers’ reserves outscored Atlanta’s bench 54-38.
Rui Hachimura chipped in seven points in 14 minutes, returning from a seven-game absence due to a calf strain. He played on a minutes restriction but provided a needed boost on the glass with three offensive rebounds.
Hawks’ New Backcourt Shines in Defeat
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored a career-high 26 points, hitting 5-of-7 from three. CJ McCollum added 25 points and six assists in just his second outing since being traded from Washington for Trae Young.
“We’re still figuring each other out,” McCollum said. “But the chemistry is coming.”
Atlanta trimmed the deficit to 11 midway through the fourth before the Lakers closed on a 14-4 run. The Hawks were without rookie Zaccharie Risacher (knee) and center Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles), both held out for the remainder of the road trip.
Three-Point Redemption
Los Angeles entered the night having hit just 8-of-36 threes in Monday’s 18-point loss at Sacramento. They responded by knocking down 19-of-38 from deep, their second-best mark of the season.
Eight different Lakers hit at least one triple, led by Doncic’s six. The 62 percent first-half shooting-81 points-was the club’s highest-scoring half of the campaign.
“We needed this,” James said. “We talked about responding, and we did it collectively.”
Up Next
Hawks: Visit Portland on Thursday, seeking their first three-game win streak of the season.
Lakers: Host Charlotte on Thursday, aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since late January.
Reported by Marcus L. Bennett for News Of Losangeles
