Injuries catch up to Lakers as winning streak ends in loss to Hawks
ATLANTA — As the Lakers were down 20 points in the third quarter in Atlanta, the only sound coming from their bench was Nick Smith Jr.’s hollow applause of encouragement. The rest of the Lakers sat silently or loitered in a semicircle waiting for their coaches to join them.
There wasn’t much to say.
The Lakers’ five-game winning streak ended in a blowout as the Hawks dominated 122-102 Saturday at State Farm Arena.
Playing a third straight game without Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic tried to keep the Lakers (7-3) going with 22 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, but all his points came in the first half and he exited after just 27 minutes as the Hawks built a 25-point lead midway through the third quarter. Forward Jake LaRavia had 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Jarred Vanderbilt had 18 rebounds, one short of his career high.
The Hawks (5-5) were playing the second straight home game after losing to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. They ruled out four of five starters, including Trae Young (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (rest) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (back).
They still built a quick 13-point lead in the first quarter as the Lakers, who had won their first four away games, looked lethargic to open a five-game road trip.
The Lakers should know the dangers of a desperate, short-handed team. Just five days ago, they ended Portland’s three-game winning streak without Reaves, Doncic or LeBron James. Coach JJ Redick said he would reiterate the lesson before Saturday’s game to avoid a disappointment.
Atlanta Hawks guard Vit Krejci, center, shoots between Lakers center Deandre Ayton, left, and forward Rui Hachimura in the first half Saturday.
(Mike Stewart/Associated Press)
The lead grew to 14 at halftime and 26 after three quarters once Redick removed Doncic, LaRavia and center Deandre Ayton.
The Lakers looked lethargic early on, missing easy lobbed passes that they regularly connected on during their winning streak. They fell asleep on defense, letting the Hawks drive straight to the basket.
Atlanta’s Mouhamed Gueye torched them for 19 points on seven-of-nine shooting from the field and made four three-pointers. The Lakers, who had credited their connection and chemistry with carrying them through long stints without their stars, suddenly fell silent facing a significant deficit in front of a raucous crowd.
At the end, as most Atlanta fans flocked to the exits, the Hawks’ most dedicated group of fans, the “404 Crew,” echoed through the nearly empty arena with a final chant: “Where’s LeBron?”
The superstar has yet to play a single minute this season due to sciatica.
