Sluggish Lakers trounced by short-handed Hawks to end winning streak

Sluggish Lakers Trounced by Short-Handed Hawks

Game Overview

Luka Doncic scored 22 points, dished out 11 assists, and grabbed five rebounds in 27 minutes, but the Lakers fell 122-102 to the Atlanta Hawks. Despite the Hawks missing four starters and five key rotation players, the Lakers struggled throughout the game.

Coach's Pre-Game Emphasis and Outcome

Before the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick stressed the importance of not underestimating the short-handed Hawks. The Lakers started their season strongly despite star forward LeBron James missing all games and other key players sitting out three of their first ten matches. Yet within two minutes, it was clear the Lakers lacked energy and focus.

Details of the Loss

The defeat ended the Lakers' five-game winning streak, dropping their overall record to 7-3 and marking their first road loss of the season (4-1 away from Crypto.com Arena).

“Just not a lot to like [on Saturday night],” Redick said.

Player Performances

Luka Doncic led the team with 22 points (4 of 10 on 3-pointers), 11 assists, and five rebounds in 27 minutes but contributed to five of the team's 20 turnovers.
Marcus Smart added five points, two assists, and committed two turnovers in 21 minutes.

Neither Doncic nor Smart spoke with reporters after the game.

Author's Summary

The Lakers' lack of energy and focus despite facing a depleted Hawks team ended their five-game win streak and highlighted issues in ball control and team intensity.

Orange County Register — 2025-11-09