The Atlanta Hawks fought back from a 20-point deficit but could not complete the comeback Monday, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers 124–114 after costly turnovers disrupted their late push.
Los Angeles scored 29 points off Atlanta’s turnovers, capitalizing on mistakes that undermined the Hawks’ improved second-half effort. Luka Doncic finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Walker Kessler added 21 points and 10 rebounds.
CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 21 points off the bench, and
Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 20.
The Hawks initially looked comfortable, building a 17–9 lead behind Onyeka Okongwu’s perimeter shooting. Okongwu made two of his first three attempts from beyond the arc, while the other starters found opportunities in transition and at the free-throw line.
That early rhythm disappeared as Atlanta struggled to convert offensively and contain Los Angeles at the other end. A 13–3 Lakers run helped shift the momentum, with the Hawks eventually falling behind 31–22.
The problems carried into the second quarter. Los Angeles played with greater offensive aggression, generating good looks from three-point range and getting to the foul line. Atlanta also struggled to keep Kessler out of the paint, giving the Lakers another reliable source of interior production.
The deficit grew to as many as 20 before the Hawks began finding answers late in the half. Improved offensive execution helped Atlanta trim the margin to 11, entering the break trailing 68–57.
The Hawks carried that progress into the third quarter. Consecutive baskets from Dyson Daniels, including a three-pointer, helped cut the deficit to six and gave Atlanta another offensive lift.
The perimeter shooting improved across the lineup, with the Hawks connecting on six of 12 three-point attempts in the quarter. Their defensive intensity also increased, producing timely stops that created fast-break opportunities.
That combination allowed Atlanta to work back into the game after spending much of the first half searching for consistent execution. The Hawks gave themselves a chance by defending more actively and turning those stops into opportunities before Los Angeles could get set.
Atlanta continued competing in the fourth quarter, but turnovers on critical possessions prevented it from finishing the comeback. The Lakers converted those mistakes into points, leaving the Hawks unable to close the remaining gap.
The second-half response showed Atlanta’s willingness to keep fighting, but the early defensive breakdowns and costly giveaways proved too much to overcome. Against Doncic’s all-around production and Kessler’s presence inside, the Hawks needed a cleaner finish.
Atlanta now has three days off before returning to the road Friday to face the Chicago Bulls.
