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In a surprising victory at State Farm Arena, the Atlanta Hawks, missing several key players, dominated the Los Angeles Lakers 122-102 on November 8, 2026, ending the Lakers’ five-game winning streak.
The Hawks, without key players like Trae Young (sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee), Jalen Johnson, Kristaps Porzingis, and others, quickly took the lead and never relinquished it.
They went into halftime with a 68-54 advantage after scoring 19 points thanks to 10 Lakers turnovers and assisting on 21 of their 26 field goals in the first half.
Atlanta extended their lead to 26 points in the third quarter—their largest third-quarter lead against the Lakers since 1959—before sealing the victory. The Lakers shot a dismal 44% from the field early on and struggled defensively, allowing Atlanta to score at will in the paint (14 points in the first quarter alone).
Hawks standouts: Mouhamed Gueye scored a career-high 21 points off the bench, igniting the crowd with early dunks and flawless shooting (4-for-4 in the first quarter).
Dyson Daniels nearly recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds, while rookie Zaccharie Risacher and Onyeka Okongwu anchored the starting lineup. Asa Newell added a career-high 17 points. Five Hawks starters scored in double figures, showcasing a balanced offense.
Lakers’ woes: Luka Dončić, averaging 40 points per game this season, was limited to 22 points (all in the first half), 11 assists, and 5 rebounds before being substituted midway through the third quarter.
DeAndre Ayton scored 11 points before being substituted late in the third quarter, Jarred Vanderbilt grabbed a team-high 18 rebounds with 12 points, and Jake LaRavia added 13.
The bench was completely ineffective, scoring only 4 points in the first half compared to Atlanta’s 26. LeBron James (sciatica) and Austin Reaves (injury) were both absent, further compounding the Lakers’ roster depth issues.
This crushing defeat was a major blow for the Lakers, who entered the game as 5.5-point favorites with a 5-0 road record, including wins over strong teams.
It exposed the vulnerabilities of the Lakers’ defense, particularly in the paint and on turnovers, while their offense stalled without James and Reaves; bench production was historically low.
The loss dropped the Lakers to 7-3 (second to fourth place in the West), which could affect their confidence during a demanding five-game road trip. For the Hawks (now 5-5, ninth in the East), it was a morale booster, demonstrating that they can compete without stars thanks to the energy of their rookies and their teamwork.
The irony was highlighted on social media: Dončić, who was once traded by Atlanta for Young, couldn’t beat his former team. The initial reactions in the betting world harshly criticized the Lakers’ lack of intensity against such a weak opponent.
Lakers: The loss halts their momentum and raises questions about the depth of their roster and the urgency of their play. Coach JJ Redick’s postgame press conference lasted a mere 100 seconds and ended with a simple “embarrassed.”
This temporarily impacts Los Angeles’ offensive and defensive stats, but with the imminent return of James and Reaves, they can recover.
Next game: in Charlotte (Monday), a must-win to avoid a 7-4 losing streak. In the long term, it underscores the need to improve scoring off the bench and perimeter defense, especially with a tough matchup against the Thunder on the horizon.
Hawks: They even their record at .500 and offer a winning strategy with key players out: capitalizing on turnovers (19 points on 10 shots) and sharing the ball (21 assists in the first half).
This buys them time to recover from injuries, but highlights the inconsistencies that still persist without Young. Next game: against the Clippers (Monday), where a strong performance could propel them to a .600 record.
League-wide: The impact was minimal, but it fueled discussions about Dončić’s workload management and Atlanta’s reliance on young talent. Fan reactions on X tended toward frustration with Los Angeles (“zero competitiveness”) and praise for Atlanta’s grit.
