ATLANTA — The Los Angeles Lakers’ five-game road trip started on a sour note on Saturday night with a 122-102 loss against an injury-depleted Atlanta Hawks team that had L.A. coach JJ Redick visibly frustrated.
The Lakers’ biggest — and only — lead was by one point less than two minutes into the game.
Redick kept his post-game comments brief. He was asked six questions, all of which he answered in a sentence or less. The entire press conference was under two minutes.
The Hawks got off to a hot start. By halftime, Atlanta led 68-54. The Hawks extended their lead to 90-65 in the third quarter. It was enough for Redick to pull star Luka Doncic, who finished the game with 22 points, 11 assists and five rebounds.
Redick was asked if there was a moment in the third quarter where he knew at least the starting five wouldn’t be able to have the impact he hoped for.
“I realized that in the first two minutes of the game,” Redick said.
The Hawks turned to their bench as they were down three of their starting five. In addition to All-Star Trae Young, Atlanta was without Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Nikola Durisic, Jalen Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis.
Zaccharie Risacher, Onyeka Okongwu, Keaton Wallace, Dyson Daniels and Mouhamed Gueye started for the Hawks.
Gueye scored a career-high 21 points. Daniels had a career-best 13 assists and added 10 points and eight rebounds. It was a breakout game for rookie Asa Newell, who recorded 17 points, five rebounds, four steals and a block.
Redick said Atlanta “brought the requisite level of effort and urgency and physicality” and alluded that his team did not.
The Lakers head to Charlotte next for Monday night matchup against the Hornets. They face the Thunder, Pelicans and Bucks before heading back to Los Angeles.
The Hawks face the Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday night.
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