Lakers Fall to Hawks 138-122 in Absence of Anthony Davis

In one of their worst defensive performances of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers succumbed to a 138-122 defeat against the Atlanta Hawks. The absence of Anthony Davis was palpable as the Hawks exploited the Lakers’ defense, particularly in the paint.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Hawks. D’Angelo Russell, who has been at the center of trade rumors involving Dejounte Murray, struggled, scoring nine points on 3-11 shooting. Murray, on the other hand, excelled with 24 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and nine assists.

Austin Reaves emerged as the top scorer in the game with 28 points, overcoming a slow start to finish 10-19 from the field. Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura provided valuable contributions off the bench, finishing with 12 and 16 points, respectively.

The Lakers, playing without Anthony Davis, experimented with a new starting lineup featuring Jaxson Hayes alongside Reaves, James, Taurean Prince, and Russell. Despite keeping the game even in the opening minutes, the Lakers struggled defensively, trailing by seven entering the second quarter.

The defensive woes continued throughout the game, with the Hawks capitalizing on poor rotations and defensive miscues. The Lakers found themselves trailing by double digits in the second half, and despite occasional attempts to cut the deficit, the Hawks maintained control.

The Lakers faced challenges on both ends of the floor, unable to mount a significant comeback. With the absence of Davis, the team lacked a defensive anchor, and the Hawks capitalized on their vulnerabilities.

The loss dropped the Lakers to a 1-2 record on their current road trip, with concerns about the team’s performance and their ability to respond without Davis. The upcoming matchup against the Boston Celtics poses another significant challenge for the struggling Lakers.