ATLANTA (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers’ five-game road trip got off to a rough start Saturday night with a 122-102 loss to an injury-depleted Atlanta Hawks team. The defeat left Lakers coach JJ Redick visibly frustrated.
The Lakers’ biggest and only lead came less than two minutes into the game, when they were up by a single point. From there, the Hawks took control and never looked back. Atlanta jumped out to a hot start and led 68-54 by halftime. They extended their advantage to 90-65 in the third quarter, prompting Redick to pull star Luka Doncic, who finished the game with 22 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds.
When asked if there was a moment in the third quarter when he realized the starting five wouldn’t have the impact he hoped for, Redick replied, “I realized that in the first two minutes of the game.”
The Hawks were without three starters—Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Nikola Durisic, Jalen Johnson—and All-Star Trae Young, as well as Kristaps Porzingis. Despite the injuries, Atlanta turned to their bench players, with Zaccharie Risacher, Onyeka Okongwu, Keaton Wallace, Dyson Daniels, and Mouhamed Gueye all starting.
Several Hawks players had standout performances. Gueye scored a career-high 21 points. Daniels recorded a career-best 13 assists, alongside 10 points and eight rebounds. Rookie Asa Newell also had a breakout game, contributing 17 points, five rebounds, four steals, and a block.
Redick acknowledged that Atlanta “brought the requisite level of effort and urgency and physicality” and hinted that his own team did not meet those standards.
The Lakers will continue their road trip in Charlotte, facing the Hornets on Monday night. Following that game, they will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans, and Milwaukee Bucks before returning home to Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the Hawks are set to play the Los Angeles Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday night.
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/basketball-general-news/10163619/frustrated-lakers-coach-jj-redick-keeps-postgame-comments-brief-after-loss-to-hawks.html
