LeBron James totaled 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers emphatically ended a three-game losing streak with a 141–116 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.
Luka Dončić added 27 points and 12 assists for the Lakers, who built a 32-point lead early in the second half and withstood a late Atlanta push. Los Angeles has lost four straight games just once since acquiring Dončić nearly a year ago.
James narrowly missed his first triple-double since Feb. 1 in New York, accomplishing the feat while playing the second game of his first back-to-back set of his unprecedented 23rd NBA season. That date last season also coincided with the blockbuster trade that brought Dončić to Los Angeles later that night.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 26 points, while CJ McCollum scored 25. Corey Kispert added 19 points as Atlanta continued to integrate McCollum and Kispert, both acquired from Washington in the deal that sent Trae Young to the Wizards.
Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton each scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which rebounded from a poor shooting performance in Monday’s loss at Sacramento by drilling 19 3-pointers. The Lakers had gone just 8 for 36 from beyond the arc in that defeat.
Despite dealing with left groin soreness, Dončić caught fire in the second quarter, hitting 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions to spark a 17–0 Lakers run. Los Angeles shot nearly 62% from the field and carried an 81–60 halftime lead, its highest-scoring half of the season.
The Lakers opened the second half with a 12–1 run to blow the game open, though Atlanta gradually cut the deficit to 11 points before Los Angeles reasserted control down the stretch.
Rui Hachimura scored seven points in limited minutes off the bench while returning from a seven-game injury absence.
Atlanta continued its road trip without Kristaps Porziņģis (Achilles tendon) and Zaccharie Risacher (knee).
Up next: The Hawks visit Portland on Thursday, while the Lakers host Charlotte.
