LeBron James, in his 23rd NBA season, nearly notched another triple-double with 31 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, while Luka Dončić added 27 points and 12 assists. The dynamic duo torched Atlanta's defense, leading a relentless attack that saw the Lakers hit 19 three-pointers and shoot nearly 62% from the field overall.
The game turned into a rout early. Los Angeles jumped out to a strong first quarter (37-30) and then exploded in the second, outscoring the Hawks 44-30 to take an 81-60 halftime lead—their highest-scoring half of the season. A 17-0 run spearheaded by Dončić's consecutive threes blew the game open, pushing the margin to as many as 32 points.
Atlanta, coming off wins on the first two legs of their West Coast trip, fought back valiantly in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 11 points at one stage with a surge led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker (26 points) and CJ McCollum (25 points). But the Lakers responded with composure, pulling away in the fourth behind contributions from Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton (17 points each) and a timely 8-0 run to seal the deal.
Rui Hachimura returned from a seven-game injury absence, adding seven points off the bench on minutes restriction, providing a boost to the rotation. The Lakers' shooting woes from their previous loss evaporated, as they bounced back emphatically after struggling from deep against Sacramento.
For the Hawks (now 20-22), the loss snapped a brief hot streak and highlighted defensive vulnerabilities on the road. Corey Kispert chipped in 19 points in his second game with Atlanta post-trade, but the team couldn't contain the Lakers' star power or halt the three-point barrage.
This victory improves the Lakers to 24-14, keeping them firmly in the Western Conference mix, while Atlanta heads to Portland for their road trip finale looking to regroup.
A statement night for Los Angeles—LeBron and Luka reminded everyone why this duo is one of the league's most feared, turning a potential trap game into a laugher. The purple and gold faithful left Crypto.com buzzing, with the skid officially history and momentum firmly on their side heading into Thursday's matchup against Charlotte.
What a way to silence the doubters!