It’s not an exaggeration to say the Los Angeles Lakers are enduring one of their toughest weeks in franchise history.
After suffering a 109-80 road loss to the Timberwolves on Monday, the Lakers were overwhelmed by the Miami Heat 134-93 on Wednesday, marking the team’s worst two-game combined margin of defeat.
The Lakers limp into the finale of their four-game road trip on Friday against the surging Atlanta Hawks.
In Wednesday’s loss, the Heat shot 57.8 percent from the field and 51.1 percent (24-for-47) from beyond the arc. Nearly 40-year-old LeBron James led the Lakers with 29 points, but the team struggled, making just 5 of 22 (22.7 percent) three-point attempts, while Anthony Davis missed 11 of his 14 shot attempts.
Coach Redick had the Lakers rolling at the start of the season, but the team has since lost six of their last eight games. Davis, who had a season-low eight points on Wednesday, leads the team with 26.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, while James follows with averages of 22.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 7.9 rebounds. James, who has expressed a desire to play every game this season, is listed as questionable with left foot soreness.
On the other hand, the Hawks have won five straight games, most recently snapping the Milwaukee Bucks’ seven-game winning streak on Wednesday.
After trailing 16-6 in Milwaukee, Atlanta’s balanced scoring effort led to their longest winning streak since January 2023. Jalen Johnson recorded 23 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, while De’Andre Hunter added 20 points off the bench. Hunter has surpassed the 20-point mark in four of his last five games.
According to Atlanta head coach Quin Snyder, the key to their win streak has been their defense. The Hawks demonstrated this by allowing just 17 fourth-quarter points to Milwaukee.
Atlanta star point guard Trae Young has yet to find his shooting rhythm, hitting career lows from the field (38.4 percent) and from three-point range (30.6 percent) after a 0-for-9 performance from beyond the arc on Wednesday. His playmaking has remained strong, however, as he leads the NBA with 12 assists per game.
Young leads Atlanta with 20.7 points per game, followed by Johnson (20.1) and Hunter (18.7).
The Hawks, who clinched East Group C in the NBA Cup last week, will face the New York Knicks next Wednesday in the Cup quarterfinals. Before that matchup, the Hawks host the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
Following their game against Atlanta, the Lakers return home to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
