E Da Old Tymer

On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers (24-14) showcased their prowess from the opening tip, delivering a basketball masterclass as they overwhelmed the Atlanta Hawks (20-22) with a commanding 141-116 victory. Veteran forward LeBron James turned back the clock, leading the Lakers’ offensive onslaught with a near triple-double, amassing 31 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds on an efficient 12-20 shooting, including 2-4 from beyond the arc. All-star guard Luka Doncic had a quieter night by his standards, contributing 27 points. While Doncic found his rhythm from long range, hitting 5-9 from downtown, he faced challenges inside the arc, converting just 7 of his 16 attempts.

For the Hawks, veteran guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the charge with 26 points on an impressive 10-16 shooting, including 5-9 from three-point territory. Star forward Jalen Johnson struggled throughout the contest, managing only 13 points on under 30 percent shooting and sinking just one of his seven attempts from beyond the arc. Vit Krejci was the only other starter to reach double figures, scoring 11 points in 21 minutes of play.

The Lakers started strong but briefly fell into defensive lapses, allowing the Hawks to score easy baskets. However, late in the first quarter, the purple and gold flipped the switch, disrupting passing lanes and clogging the paint, with Marcus Smart drawing two offensive fouls from the Hawks. The Lakers’ offense operated like a well-oiled machine, with Marcus Smart adding 16 points. Jake LaRavia and DeAndre Ayton made significant contributions, each scoring 17 points. Despite the Lakers’ dominance, the Hawks had the upper hand in bench production, outscoring the Lakers’ bench 51-33. New acquisition CJ McCollum was the spark off the bench, scoring 25 points in 27 minutes. Forward Rui Hachimura, in just his second game back from a leg injury, added 7 points in a reserve role. Gabe Vincent also joined the double-digit club, scoring 10 points in 14 minutes.

he Lakers have plenty of positives to build on. They shot an impressive 57 percent compared to the Hawks’ 45 percent and nearly sank 56 percent of their three-point attempts, while the Hawks managed just 28 percent. The Lakers also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Hawks 47-32. The Hawks attempted 18 free throws, converting 13 (72 percent), while the Lakers visited the charity stripe 30 times, making 26 of those attempts.

The Lakers will enjoy a day of rest before hosting the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday.

Game Leaders:

Scoring

• LeBron James (Lakers) – 31 pts.
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Hawks) – 26 pts.

Rebounds

• DeAndre Ayton (Lakers) – 18
• Onyeka Okongwu and Dyson Daniels (Hawks) – 8 each

Assists

• Luka Doncic (Lakers) – 12
• Jalen Johnson (Hawks) – 8