Lakers post 81-pt H1, trounce Hawks

Posted by siteadmin
January 15, 2026
Posted in SPORTS
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) looks to pass the ball against Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu. (Kiyoshi Mio / Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) looks to pass the ball against Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu. (Kiyoshi Mio / Imagn Images)

LeBron James scored 31 points with 10 assists and nine rebounds, Luka Doncic added 27 points with 12 assists and the Los Angeles Lakers ended a three-game losing streak with a 141-116 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks yesterday (Philippine time).

Deandre Ayton scored 17 points with a season-high 18 rebounds, Jake LaRavia also had 17 points and Marcus Smart added 16 as the Lakers shot 60.5 percent from the floor in a dominating first half and 57.8 percent in the game.

The Lakers shot 19 of 34 (55.9 percent) from three-point range one night after they went eight of 36 (22.2 percent) in a road loss to the Sacramento Kings. Los Angeles was playing its second game in a stretch of five contests in seven days.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 points for the Hawks and CJ McCollum added 25 in his second game with Atlanta after a trade from the Washington Wizards. Corey Kispert, who also arrived in the trade for four-time All-Star guard Trae Young, added 19 points.

Jalen Johnson added 13 points for the Hawks, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end while falling to 2-1 on a four-game road trip that ends at Portland.

The game was tied 42-42 in the second quarter when the Lakers took charge with a 21-2 run for a 63-44 lead with 5:20 remaining in the opening half. Doncic scored the final 12 points in the run, including three three-pointers.

Los Angeles led 81-60 at halftime, its highest scoring first half of the season, while recording 19 assists on 26 made baskets.

The Lakers reached triple digits at 101-82 with 2:14 remaining in the third quarter on a shot inside from LaRavia. Once with a 32-point lead, the Los Angeles advantage was cut to 102-86 through three quarters.

The Hawks pulled within 108-97 with 9:07 remaining before the Lakers put the game away by taking a 122-99 lead with 5:51 left after a fastbreak layup from Ayton.

Lakers forward Rui Hachimura scored seven points in 18 minutes after missing the previous seven games with a calf injury. (Field Level Media / Reuters)

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