Deprived of Zaccharie Risacher and Kristaps Porzingis, the Hawks opened the game with a lot of 3-point attempts. The Lakers follow the rhythm and the two teams exchange baskets. Then, Los Angeles took control with 13-0, carried by LeBron James, omnipresent, and Gabe Vincent, skillful behind the arc (37-30). Luka Doncic joins the party in the second quarter, being hot at 3-points. The Californians then pass a 21-2!
LeBron James is having fun playing fast, it’s going offensively and it’s serious on defense. In short, the Hawks are overwhelmed, drowned and return to the locker room with one knee on the ground (81-60). Especially after the break, the “King” does not slow down, Deandre Ayton confirms his very good match and we are heading towards a quiet success for Los Angeles.
Except that, as the gap is made, vigilance decreases. There is a little moment of hesitation, which Atlanta takes advantage of, with an energetic CJ McCollum, who tries and manages to score points (102-86).
The Hawks will manage to come back to eleven points at the start of the last quarter. JJ Redick’s troops will react with LeBron James, who connects a winning basket then a dunk.
Marcus Smart and Luka Doncic make their contribution and Quin Snyder’s players are once again sidelined. The victory was ultimately as big as expected, despite these less successful minutes, with a 141-116 success.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– The collective effort of the Lakers. JJ Redick will surely talk to his locker room about these questionable minutes in the second half but for the most part, his players had a very good match, even excellent in the first half. The ball moved very well (36 assists), the skill was there (19/34 at 3 points), the defense was serious. There is nothing to throw away from the first 24 minutes and the period of hesitation passed, the Californians resumed their path forward to win largely. There are more positives than negatives to take away from this meeting, especially after three defeats in a row.
– LeBron James is close to a triple-double. He’s the man of the match. The “King” was everywhere with 31 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds. On fast play, without the ball, on the pass, he was the big boss of the match, despite a little scare in his leg in the second half.
– Jalen Johnson, symbol of the Hawks’ failed match. If the Lakers were so good, it was also because their opponent was less sharp. The Atlanta leader missed his game, never weighing on the debates, with only 13 points at 5/17 on the shoot. He even missed simple things for him. It was mainly CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, respectively 25 and 26 points, who tried to bring together a team diminished by the absences of Zaccharie Risacher and Kristaps Porzingis.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
