They really needed this one. Honestly, after dropping three straight and looking kinda sluggish on the defensive end, the question of did the laker win was starting to feel like a weekly anxiety test for fans in Los Angeles. Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, they didn't just win; they absolutely dismantled the Atlanta Hawks 141-116.
It was a statement.
The Lakers walked into this game with a lot of noise surrounding them. Rumors about bench depth, LeBron’s heavy minutes in his 23rd season, and a defense that had been leakier than a screen door. But for one night, everything clicked. They shot a season-high 56% from three-point range, which is wild considering they’ve been hovering near the bottom of the league in that category lately.
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What happened last night: Did the Laker win against the Hawks?
If you just look at the final score, it looks like a typical blowout. But the context matters. The Lakers were coming off a back-to-back, having just lost a frustrating game to the Kings in Sacramento on Monday. Everyone expected tired legs. Instead, we saw a team that looked like it had been shot out of a cannon.
LeBron James was basically everywhere. He finished with 31 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. He missed the triple-double by a single board, but at 41 years old, nobody is complaining about that stat line. Luka Doncic, who the Lakers famously snagged in that seismic trade last February, added 27 points of his own.
The turning point was a massive 21-2 run in the second quarter. One minute it was a tied game at 42-42; the next, the Lakers were up by nearly 20 and never looked back.
Key individual performances that secured the W
- LeBron James: 31 PTS, 10 AST, 9 REB (just another Tuesday for him).
- Luka Doncic: 27 PTS, 12 AST (hit three straight triples during the big run).
- Deandre Ayton: 17 PTS and a season-high 18 rebounds. He was a monster on the glass.
- Rui Hachimura: 7 PTS in 18 minutes. It was his first game back after missing nine with an injury.
Why this win actually matters for the standings
The Western Conference is a bloodbath right now. The Thunder are sitting comfortably at the top, but the middle of the pack is basically a nightly game of musical chairs. By beating Atlanta, the Lakers moved to 24-14 on the season.
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They’re currently sitting 5th in the West.
A loss would have plummeted them into that dangerous 7th or 8th seed territory where the Play-In tournament starts looming like a dark cloud. Winning keeps them within striking distance of the Timberwolves and Nuggets for home-court advantage.
The "New" Hawks: Not the same team LA used to face
It’s worth noting that this wasn’t the Trae Young-led Hawks team of years past. Atlanta recently moved Trae to Washington, and the "new look" Hawks had actually been on a bit of a tear. CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have brought a different energy to that squad.
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But LA’s size was too much. Between Ayton and LeBron, the Hawks couldn't get anything going in the paint. When the Lakers are hitting their outside shots like they did last night—going 19-of-34 from deep—they are basically impossible to beat.
What’s next for the Lakers?
The schedule doesn’t get any easier. They stay at home for a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday before hitting the road again. If they want to prove that the question did the laker win will have a positive answer more often than not, they have to find consistency.
They can't just rely on shooting 56% from three every night. That's a statistical anomaly. The real test will be if they can keep this defensive intensity up when the shots aren't falling.
Actionable steps for Lakers fans:
- Watch the defensive rotations: Keep an eye on Deandre Ayton’s positioning. When he’s aggressive, the Lakers’ defensive rating improves significantly.
- Monitor the injury report: With Rui Hachimura back on a minutes restriction, see how JJ Redick integrates him back into the starting lineup over the next three games.
- Check the 3PT volume: If the Lakers keep taking 30+ threes a game, it’s a sign that Redick’s offensive system is fully taking hold, regardless of whether they all go in.
The 141-116 victory was a much-needed breather. For a night, the critics were quiet, the fans were loud, and the Lakers looked like the contenders they claim to be. Now, they just have to do it again.