ATLANTA — Lakers Coach JJ Redick said there would “definitely” be an emphasis on his team on Saturday night to not overlook the short-handed Atlanta Hawks, who were without four starters and five rotation players.
It was a message that the Lakers should’ve known all too well about, with their strong start to the season coming despite star forward LeBron James not playing in a single game, and being without other key players for three out of their first 10 games so far.
But the emphasis either didn’t land, or the Lakers didn’t know what to do with it, resulting in a 122-102 loss to the depleted Hawks at State Farm Arena to kick off their five-game trip.
The Lakers’ win streak ended at five games with the defeat, dropping them to 7-3 on the season.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 22 points (4 of 10 on 3-pointers), 11 assists and five rebounds in 27 minutes, but played a role in the team’s struggles, committing five turnovers.
The tone for the Lakers’ poor defensive performance was set with their unfocused off-ball defense, with the Hawks (5-5), who were also playing on the second night of a back-to-back set after dropping a home game to the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, easily cutting to the basket for shots at the rim or getting open for 3-pointers.
The Lakers’ transition defense – another pregame emphasis from Redick – was lethargic, resulting in the Hawks scoring 22 fastbreak points. Atlanta scored 36 points off the Lakers’ 20 turnovers.
After his third turnover of the game, Redick pulled Deandre Ayton (11 points, five rebounds) from the game at the 8:49 mark of the third quarter with his team down 76-61.
And after the Hawks took a 90-65 lead midway through the third, Redick pulled the remainder of his main rotation players, not subbing them back in the game, seemingly seeing enough of how they were playing.
The Hawks were without Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard.
Mouhamed Gueye led the Hawks with 21 points and seven rebounds, and was among the seven Atlanta players who scored in double figures.
Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, added 19 points and four assists.
Vít Krejčí and Asa Newell both added 17 points off the bench.
The Lakers will continue the trip against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.