The Atlanta Hawks (20-21) head to the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Lakers (23-14) in a cross-conference matchup that pits a surging Hawks squad against a Lakers team dealing with inconsistency and potential injury concerns. This game marks the second meeting between the two this season, following Atlanta’s convincing 122-102 home win over Los Angeles on November 8, 2025. With the Hawks riding a three-game winning streak and the Lakers coming off a back-to-back, expect a competitive affair where defense and star performances could decide the outcome.
Venue Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California. This iconic venue, formerly known as Staples Center, has been the Lakers’ home since 1999 and seats approximately 19,000 fans for basketball games.
Tipoff is scheduled for t 7:30 PM PST (10:30 PM EST). Doors open at 6:00 PM PST, with national broadcast availability on League Pass, local TV on FanDuel Sports Southeast (for Hawks) and SportsNet LA (for Lakers), and radio on ESPN LA 710/1330 KWKW.
Recent Team Forms
The Hawks have turned things around with a three-game win streak, focusing on balanced scoring and strong defense. They’ve gone 6-4 in their last 10 games, emphasizing interior play and perimeter shooting. The Lakers, meanwhile, are 4-6 in their last 10, struggling with defensive lapses and back-to-back fatigue, as evidenced by their recent blowout loss.
Here’s a breakdown of each team’s last five games:
| Team | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Performers |
| Atlanta Hawks | Jan 11, 2026 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 124-111 | Trae Young: 28 PTS, 10 AST; Dyson Daniels: 15 PTS, 8 REB |
| Atlanta Hawks | Jan 9, 2026 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 111-107 | Trae Young: 25 PTS; Jalen Johnson: 20 PTS, 12 REB |
| Atlanta Hawks | Jan 9, 2026 | at Denver Nuggets | W 110-87 | Dyson Daniels: 17 PTS, 11 REB, 10 AST (triple-double) |
| Atlanta Hawks | Jan 6, 2026 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | L 102-115 | Onyeka Okongwu: 18 PTS, 9 REB |
| Atlanta Hawks | Jan 4, 2026 | at Portland Trail Blazers | W 118-110 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 22 PTS |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Jan 12, 2026 | at Sacramento Kings | L 112-124 | Luka Dončić: 30 PTS, 8 AST; LeBron James: 18 PTS |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Jan 9, 2026 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-110 | Luka Dončić: 35 PTS; DeAndre Ayton: 14 PTS, 12 REB |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Jan 6, 2026 | at New Orleans Pelicans | W 111-103 | LeBron James: 25 PTS, 7 REB |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Jan 3, 2026 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 105-112 | Luka Dončić: 28 PTS |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Jan 1, 2026 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 120-115 | DeAndre Ayton: 16 PTS, 10 REB |
Injury Report
Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher (questionable, left knee bone contusion), Luke Kennard (questionable, neck sprain). The rest of the roster is available, giving Atlanta depth in the backcourt and wings.
Los Angeles Lakers: Luka Dončić (questionable, groin strain – described as “alarming” in recent updates), Austin Reaves (out, left calf strain), Brandon Williams (out, illness), LeBron James (probable, general soreness from back-to-back). If Dončić sits, the Lakers’ offense could suffer significantly.
These injuries could tilt the game toward Atlanta, especially if Dončić is limited or absent.
Key
Player Matchups
This game features intriguing battles, especially with the Lakers’ revamped roster including Luka Dončić and DeAndre Ayton, facing a Hawks team bolstered by defensive-minded players like Dyson Daniels and versatile bigs.
Luka Dončić (LAL) vs. Dyson Daniels (ATL): Dončić (33.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 8.7 APG) is the Lakers’ offensive engine, but Daniels’ length and defensive prowess (recent triple-double) could disrupt his rhythm, especially if Dončić’s groin injury flares up.
LeBron James (LAL) vs. Jalen Johnson (ATL): James (averaging 25+ PPG in recent games) brings experience, but Johnson’s athleticism (20 PPG, 12 RPG in spots) makes this a high-flying forward duel.
DeAndre Ayton (LAL) vs. Onyeka Okongwu (ATL): Ayton (13.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 67.9% FG) dominates the paint, but Okongwu’s energy (16.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG) could lead to a rebounding war.
Trae Young (ATL) vs. D’Angelo Russell or Gabe Vincent (LAL): Young (25+ PPG recently) exploits mismatches with his shooting, potentially exposing LA’s perimeter defense if Reaves is out.
Bench Impact: Hawks’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.6 PPG) vs. Lakers’ reserves like Malik Monk – Atlanta’s depth could shine here.
These matchups highlight Atlanta’s defensive edge against a potentially shorthanded Lakers squad.
Series History
The Lakers hold a commanding all-time edge with 198 wins to the Hawks’ 145 in 343 regular-season meetings. However, Atlanta has won 3 of the last 5 encounters, including a 122-102 blowout on November 8, 2025, where Bogdan Bogdanović and Jalen Johnson led the charge. The Hawks are 5-5 in their last 10 against LA, showing recent competitiveness. Playoff history favors the Lakers (36-18 in 54 games), but this regular-season series often features high-scoring affairs.
Betting Trends
Spread: Atlanta covering in 4 of their last 6 road games. Lakers are 3-2 ATS in their last 5 overall but 11-8 ATS at home.
Over/Under: Over hitting in 7 of the last 10 meetings between these teams. Hawks games have gone over in 6 of their last 10; Lakers in 5 of 10.
Trends: Hawks are 6-4 ATS in their last 10, while Lakers are 4-6. Atlanta covers more often on the road (+4.5 units), and LA struggles ATS on no rest (2-4 this season).
Game Odds
Atlanta Hawks – 3.5
Los Angeles Lakers 231.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, January 12, 2026
