Game ID: 22300669
Los Angeles Lakers @ Atlanta Hawks
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ATL 36 31 36 35 138LAL 29 27 32 34 122
ATL vs LAL ScoutingATL vs LAL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
ATL availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 15 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 14 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 38 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 38 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 7 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 1/20 after 3, 3 min since (21% of 15)
BACK Mathews back 1/13 after 2, 15 min since (102% of 15)
BACK Mills back 1/19 after 3, 14 min since (133% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/24 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 16 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 15 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 39 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 39 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 8 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Fernando back 1/20 after 3, 3 min since (21% of 15)
BACK Mills back 1/19 after 3, 15 min since (139% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 2 since 1/22, returns tonight: 33 min (92% of 36)
OUT Hunter missed 17 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 16 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 2 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 40 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 40 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 9 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Mills back 1/19 after 3, 16 min since (155% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 18 since 12/22, out tonight
OUT Krejčí missed 17 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 3 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 41 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 41 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 10 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/26 after 2, 33 min since (92% of 36)
BACK Mills back 1/19 after 3, 14 min since (134% of 11)
ATL availability going into 1/30 · 1 day's restOUT Hunter missed 19 since 12/22, returns tonight: 16 min (56% of 30)
OUT Krejčí missed 18 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 4 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 42 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 42 since 11/01, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 12)
OUT Matthews missed 11 since 1/10, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/26 after 2, 37 min since (104% of 36)
ATL availability going into 2/02 · 2 days' restOUT Krejčí missed 19 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 5 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 43 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Matthews missed 12 since 1/10, returns tonight: 12 min (109% of 12)
BACK Young back 1/26 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Hunter back 1/30 after 19, 16 min since (56% of 30)
BACK Bufkin back 1/30 after 42, 2 min since (17% of 12)
ATL availability going into 2/03 · back-to-backOUT Krejčí missed 20 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 6 since 1/22, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 44 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/26 after 2, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Hunter back 1/30 after 19, 16 min since (56% of 30)
BACK Bufkin back 1/30 after 42, 2 min since (17% of 12)
BACK Matthews back 2/02 after 12, 12 min since (109% of 12)
ATL availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Krejčí missed 21 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Fernando missed 7 since 1/22, returns tonight: 14 min (90% of 15)
OUT Gueye missed 45 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 3 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/26 after 2, 39 min since (108% of 36)
BACK Hunter back 1/30 after 19, 16 min since (55% of 30)
BACK Matthews back 2/02 after 12, 12 min since (109% of 12)
NEW Johnson 34 to 39 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Krejčí missed 22 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 46 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 4 since 1/30, out tonight
BACK Hunter back 1/30 after 19, 17 min since (58% of 30)
BACK Fernando back 2/05 after 7, 14 min since (90% of 15)
BACK Matthews back 2/02 after 12, 9 min since (82% of 12)
NEW Johnson 34 to 39 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 16 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 1/13 after 5, 20 min since (73% of 27)
BACK Reddish back 1/21 after 3, 21 min since (103% of 20)
BACK Hayes back 1/17 after 2, 4 min since (32% of 12)
LAL availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 17 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 1/21 after 3, 19 min since (91% of 20)
BACK Hayes back 1/17 after 2, 3 min since (26% of 12)
LAL availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 18 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Reddish back 1/21 after 3, 19 min since (91% of 20)
BACK Hayes back 1/17 after 2, 3 min since (26% of 12)
LAL availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 19 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 14 min (112% of 12)
NEW Russell 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Vanderbilt 20 to 27 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 3 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 20 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 1/29 after 2, 14 min since (112% of 12)
NEW Russell 33 to 40 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 4 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 21 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 1/29 after 2, 19 min since (157% of 12)
NEW Russell 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Vanderbilt 20 to 25 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Davis missed 2 since 1/30, returns tonight: 36 min (101% of 36)
OUT Reddish missed 5 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 22 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Hayes back 1/29 after 2, 24 min since (197% of 12)
NEW Russell 33 to 39 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 6 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 23 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Davis back 2/03 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Hayes back 1/29 after 2, 21 min since (173% of 12)
LAL availability going into 2/08 · 2 days' restOUT Reddish missed 7 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 2 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 24 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Davis back 2/03 after 2, 37 min since (102% of 36)
BACK Hayes back 1/29 after 2, 19 min since (157% of 12)
NEW Christie 14 to 20 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 129, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Young at 25 a game. Without Hunter (19 straight), Krejčí (18 straight), Fernando (4 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 130, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 28 free throws a game; Russell at 28 and James at 28 a game. Without Reddish (3 straight), Vincent (20 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 42 percent from three to Atlanta's 33 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Atlanta's 11. Call it Atlanta 124, the Lakers 123, the Lakers keeping it close.
1/22 @ SAC 107-122 — ATL notes
ATL lost 107-122. ATL shot 39% (36 of 93) to SAC's 46%, 14 of 40 from three. D. Murray led with 35 (11 of 23, 6 of 10 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Bogdanović added 18, Bey 13. Q4 was theirs, 38-35, the deficit cut from 18 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 87-69 against them. Johnson's -24 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/24 @ GSW 112-134 — ATL notes
ATL lost 112-134. ATL shot 41% (39 of 94) to GSW's 56%, 14 of 43 from three. Murray led with 23 (7 of 19, 2 of 7 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Johnson added 21, Bey 18. Q2 was theirs, 37-31, the deficit cut from 7 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 103-75 against them. Mathews's -23 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/26 vs DAL 143-148 — ATL notes
ATL lost 143-148. ATL took 12 more shots (97 to 85), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 53% to DAL's 60%, 15 of 34 from three. ATL turned it over 7 times to DAL's 13. Young led with 30 (9 of 18, 2 of 7 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Johnson added 25, Bogdanović 24. Q1 was theirs, 31-27, but the other 3 periods went 121-112 against them. Murray's -21 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/28 vs TOR 126-125 — ATL notes
ATL won 126-125. ATL shot 46% (44 of 95) to TOR's 46%, 6 of 27 from three, and went to the line 40 times to TOR's 32 — 32 points from the stripe to their 28. T. Young led with 30 (9 of 24, 1 of 4 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Bey added 26, Bogdanović 24. The hinge was Q1, 34-26: from level to 8 ahead. ATL trailed 57-61 at the half and won the second half 69-64. Bey was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/30 vs LAL 138-122 — ATL notes
ATL won 138-122. ATL shot 52% (53 of 101) to LAL's 53%, 16 of 38 from three, and got to the line 18 times to LAL's 25. Young led with 26 (9 of 20, 6 of 9 from three); Murray added 24, Johnson 19. The hinge was Q1, 36-29: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Bey was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/02 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Young at 29 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Krejčí (19 straight), Fernando (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 57 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Booker at 39 and Durant at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 116 a night to Atlanta's 130 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 16 times a game to Atlanta's 11. Call it Phoenix 122, Atlanta 120, Atlanta keeping it close.
2/03 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 130, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Murray at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Krejčí (20 straight), Fernando (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 44 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 32 and Kuminga at 27 a game. Without Paul (10 straight), Moody (8 straight), Payton II (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 44 percent from three to Atlanta's 37 and the defense, Golden State allowing 120 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Golden State 125, Atlanta 123, Atlanta keeping it close.
2/05 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 135 a night and allowing 130, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Young at 31 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Krejčí (21 straight), Fernando (7 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and George at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Tucker (32 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Atlanta 121, the Clippers 120, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/07 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 136 a night and allowing 130, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Murray at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Krejčí (22 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 111 a night to Atlanta's 130 and the line, where Atlanta takes 25 free throws a game to Boston's 17. Call it Boston 124, Atlanta 118.
1/23 @ LAC 116-127 — LAL notes
LAL lost 116-127. LAL shot 49% (45 of 92) to LAC's 59%, 11 of 32 from three, and went to the line 22 times to LAC's 12 — 15 points from the stripe to their 9. Russell led with 27 (9 of 21, 4 of 10 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Davis added 26, Reaves 12. Q3 was theirs, 33-29, the deficit cut from 13 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 98-83 against them. Davis's -9 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/25 vs CHI 141-132 — LAL notes
LAL won 141-132. LAL shot 61% (53 of 87) to CHI's 53%, 20 of 31 from three, and got to the line 20 times to CHI's 29. Russell led with 29 (10 of 18, 8 of 13 from three); James added 25, Davis 22. The hinge was Q2, 42-25: LAL came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 16, and the lead reached 24. James was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
1/27 @ GSW 145-144 — LAL notes
LAL won 145-144 in 2 overtimes. LAL shot 49% (49 of 101) to GSW's 46%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 43 times to GSW's 16 — 38 points from the stripe to their 11. James led with 36 (14 of 25, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Davis added 29, Russell 28. The hinge was Q4, 27-19: LAL came in trailing by 8 and left it level.
1/29 @ HOU 119-135 — LAL notes
LAL lost 119-135. LAL shot 49% (45 of 91) to HOU's 53%, 13 of 35 from three. The glass went 35-56 against them. Russell led with 23 (8 of 19, 3 of 12 from three); James added 23, Davis 23. Q4 was theirs, 35-27, the deficit cut from 24 to 16, but the other 3 periods went 108-84 against them. Russell's -19 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/30 @ ATL 122-138 — LAL notes
LAL lost 122-138. LAL shot 53% (48 of 90) to ATL's 52%, 12 of 33 from three, and went to the line 25 times to ATL's 18 — 14 points from the stripe to their 16. Reaves led with 28 (10 of 19, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); James added 20, Hachimura 16. Q4 was theirs, 34-35, but the other 3 periods went 103-88 against them. Prince's -18 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/01 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Brown at 21 a game. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 135, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 27 free throws a game; James at 26 and Davis at 25 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Reddish (4 straight), Vincent (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 114 a night to the Lakers' 135 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 14 times a game to Boston's 10. Call it Boston 125, the Lakers 116.
2/03 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 99, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 31 and DiVincenzo at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Randle (3 straight), Anunoby (3 straight), Robinson (28 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 131, shooting 50 percent and 45 from three, 28 free throws a game; James at 26 and Davis at 25 a game. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Davis (2 straight), Reddish (5 straight), Vincent (22 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 99 a night to the Lakers' 131 and the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and the Lakers minus-7. Call it New York 121, the Lakers 112.
2/05 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Miller at 25 and Washington at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 29 free throws a game; James at 26 and Reaves at 21 a game. They have lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Reddish (6 straight), Vincent (23 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 29 free throws a game to Charlotte's 18. Call it the Lakers 119, Charlotte 115, Charlotte keeping it close.
2/08 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; James at 23 and Davis at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Reddish (7 straight), Vanderbilt (2 straight), Vincent (24 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 22 a game. 3 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 106 a night to the Lakers' 120 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and the Lakers minus-6. Call it Denver 115, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ATLAG A. Griffin
BB B. Bogdanović
BO Bogdanovic
CC C. Capela
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Murray
GM G. Mathews
JJ J. Johnson
KB K. Bufkin
OO O. Okongwu
PM P. Mills
SB S. Bey
TY T. Young
LALAR A. Reaves
CW C. Wood
DR D. Russell
DW D. Windler
JH J. Hayes
JH J. Hood-Schifino
JV J. Vanderbilt
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
ML M. Lewis
RH R. Hachimura
SM S. Mays
TP T. Prince
ATL/LAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Trae Young scores 26 points, Hawks hand Lakers another double-digit defeat, 138-122
ATLANTA -- — Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks knew the Los Angeles Lakers would be a bit weary after playing 24 hours earlier in Houston.
So they came out running and gunning, handing LeBron James and the Lakers their second double-digit loss in as many nights.
Young scored 26 points, knocking down his first six attempts from 3-point range, and the Hawks raced past Los Angeles 138-122 on Tuesday.
“We knew they played last night, so we knew we needed to get up and down and run, play in transition and play fast,” Young said. “We knew as the game would go on, they would tire down. That's what they did.”
The Hawks seized control by ripping off three straight baskets to start the second half, pushing their lead to 17 points and forcing the Lakers to call a quick timeout.
It didn't help. Atlanta stretched the margin to 20 points and the Lakers never got any closer than 10 the rest of the way in a matchup of teams that reportedly have been in talks ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
The Lakers, playing without Anthony Davis after a 135-119 loss at Houston on Monday, slipped back below .500 at 24-25. Austin Reaves scored 28 points and James added 20 in a lackluster performance before a standing-room-only crowd.
“We could, on any given night, beat any team in the NBA,” James said. “But, on any given night, we can get our (butt) kicked by any team in the NBA. What’s our record? Under .500? There you go.”
Dejounte Murray , who had 24 points for the Hawks, knocked down mid-range jumpers on three straight possessions midway through the fourth quarter to turn back any thoughts of a Lakers comeback.
The Hawks guard has been mentioned as someone who might be moved with his team mired seven games under .500 despite its second straight victory.
Jalen Johnson chipped in with 19 points for the Hawks, while Bogdan Bogdanovic and Saddiq Bey had 18 apiece. Seven players scored in double figures for Atlanta, which made 16 of 38 from beyond the arc and finished 52% from the field on 101 attempts.
“We were making shots,” Young said. “Sometimes when you don't make shots, it allows them to stay in the game, have a rhythm, feel good about themselves. But nights like tonight, when you make shots, they can't have that feeling.”
Davis missed his third game of the season, sitting out with what the Lakers listed as left hip and Achilles tendon issues. Jaxson Hayes started in his place and had six points and six rebounds.
That was a far cry from the production of Davis, who is averaging 24.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.
The Lakers also missed Davis at the defensive end.
“You've got to have more communication through the course of the possession, because you're gonna have a little slippage,” James said. “When A.D. is out there, he protects us on that third line of defense. When he's not out there, there has to be constant communication.”
There also were questions about whether the 39-year-old James would play on consecutive nights. But he went through his pregame routine and was in the starting lineup.
“When I'm healthy enough to go out there and play, I just try to perform at a high level, help my teammates do great things out there on the floor, try to be productive," James said. “Win, lose or draw, be satisfied with the way I approach the game.”
He wasn't satisfied with the way he shot from the free-throw line, going 4 of 9.
“I’ve gotta be better,” said James, who had nine rebounds and eight assists.
Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter played for first time since Dec. 20, coming off the bench to score six points in 16 minutes. He missed 19 games with right knee inflammation.
Young hopes Hunter's return signals better days ahead for the underachieving Hawks.
“Any team can do it one night or two nights in row. We've just got be consistent with it,” Young said, "Hopefully we can string together some wins that propel us forward to where we want to go and need to be."
UP NEXT
Lakers: Continue a six-game trip Thursday night at Boston.