Doncic’s 32-Point Return Fuels Lakers’ Sixth Straight Win Over Hawks

WHO:

Silver Screen and Roll - Onyeka Okongwu scored seven points early for Atlanta; CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combined for 12 points during a Lakers’ run; Jalen Johnson helped Atlanta cut the halftime deficit to 11.

Silver Screen and Roll - Dyson Daniels scored five points as Atlanta narrowed the gap to six in the third quarter; Alexander-Walker scored nine points in the period.

Silver Screen and Roll - Aaron Wiggins scored five points as Atlanta pulled within two in the fourth quarter.

ESPN - Luka Doncic returned to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup after missing one game with lower back tightness; he scored 32 points, had 10 assists and eight rebounds, and recorded five steals and two blocks against the Atlanta Hawks.

ESPN - Lakers coach JJ Redick said Doncic was “just orchestrating” and “a willing passer,” adding that he “could have had 15, 16 assists.”

ESPN - Sandro Mamukelashvili scored a season-high 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench; Collin Sexton had 18 points and six assists; Walker Kessler recorded 21 points and 10 rebounds for his third straight double-double; Ziaire Williams scored 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting.

ESPN - Austin Reaves missed the game with an illness, and Quentin Grimes was out with a sprained right finger.

RealGM Basketball - Doncic was named Western Conference player of the week after averaging 45 points as the Lakers went 4-0 during that span.

Lakers Nation - Reaves scored 43 points, with five rebounds, four assists and one turnover against Detroit in the Lakers’ previous game; Grimes had 12 points and four assists in that game.

WHAT:

Silver Screen and Roll - The Lakers’ 28-9 scoring run helped them build a 19-point lead in the second quarter; Atlanta later came within three late in the third.

Silver Screen and Roll - Matisse Thybulle’s six points came on shots the article described as timely; Sandro Mamukelashvili also had three assists.

Silver Screen and Roll - The Lakers scored a season-high 49 points off the bench, scored 29 points off 20 Atlanta turnovers, and outscored the Hawks 52-42 in the paint.

Silver Screen and Roll - Cameron Carr played in the rotation and recorded two points and three rebounds; Adou Thiero had two rebounds, one assist and one steal; Matisse Thybulle scored six points.

ESPN - Atlanta averaged 14.5 turnovers per game entering the matchup; the Lakers forced 19.

ESPN - Doncic had five steals and two blocks in the game.

ESPN - The Lakers defeated the Hawks 124-114, extending their winning streak to six games; their record became 10-2.

ESPN - Doncic’s streak of scoring at least 40 points ended at four games.

ESPN - The Lakers forced 19 turnovers and held Atlanta to 114 points, below the Hawks’ 118.6-point average; Atlanta entered the game on a four-game winning streak.

ESPN - Doncic said, “I think we can be way better than 21st,” referring to the Lakers’ league ranking in defensive efficiency, and added, “I think we have the potential for that.”

WHERE:

ESPN - The game was played at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

WHY:

ESPN - JJ Redick said Doncic’s first priority is winning, that he is “first a competitor,” and that he figures out “what levers to pull” from game to game.

ESPN - Doncic missed the Lakers’ previous game because of lower back tightness; Reaves was unavailable because of illness, and Grimes because of a right-finger sprain.

ESPN - Redick said Doncic prioritizes winning and “reads the game,” rather than simply pursuing points.

HOW:

Silver Screen and Roll - Jarred Vanderbilt and Cameron Carr each dunked on assists from Luka Doncic to close the first quarter.

Silver Screen and Roll - The Lakers led by as many as 20 points, but Atlanta cut the lead to two in the fourth quarter before Los Angeles closed with a 9-2 run.

ESPN - Sexton took on more ball-handling responsibility with Reaves unavailable.

ESPN - The Lakers’ win continued despite the absences of Reaves and Grimes, who had combined for 55 points and eight assists in the Detroit game.

Luka Doncic returned with 32 points as the Lakers beat Atlanta 124 to 114. Los Angeles extended its winning streak to six, improving its record to 10-2. The Lakers forced 19 turnovers and closed out Atlanta after its fourth-quarter rally.