The Los Angeles Lakers halted their three-game slide on Tuesday night, beating the Atlanta Hawks 141-116 at Crypto.com Arena in the second leg of a back-to-back.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James, both listed as questionable earlier in the day, started together for the first time in a back-to-back this season. James opened the scoring with an assist to Deandre Ayton and added a driving layup, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker drilled two early three-pointers, one of them a four-point play.
Rui Hachimura, back after missing seven games with a calf strain, came off the bench to convert a reverse layup and a mid-range jumper. Doncic and Gabe Vincent then connected from deep during a 13-0 burst that sent Los Angeles to a 37-30 advantage after one quarter.
Atlanta trimmed the margin to start the second period, capitalizing on two James turnovers for a 7-1 spurt. Marcus Smart responded with three straight transition drives, and Doncic caught fire from beyond the arc, sinking three triples—one while drawing a foul—to push the lead to 63-44. The Lakers shot their way to an 81-60 cushion at halftime.
Five quick points from James stretched the difference to 30 early in the third, but several Doncic turnovers and a technical foul allowed the Hawks to close within 102-86 entering the final quarter.
Atlanta cut the deficit to 11 in the fourth before James and Smart each buried timely threes. Doncic’s three-point play restored a 20-point gap, and Los Angeles cruised the rest of the way.
Key Numbers: The Lakers hit 141 points, their highest total this season, and improved to 24-17. The Hawks fell to 18-22.
Up Next
Los Angeles gets Wednesday off before hosting the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena.
Source: LakersNation.com
