Lakers meltdown against Hawks to drop their 3rd straight.
The Lakers completely melted down against Atlanta despite a big 33-point night from Malik Monk, falling to the Hawks 129–121 to lose their 3rd straight and dropping their season record to 23–26.
After having a lead for most of the contest, the Lakers collapsed in the fourth quarter, with Trae Young and Malik Monk exchanging big shots in the final minutes, but was put away after a toilet three by Young from 30-feet that sealed the win for Atlanta.
The Hawks outscored the Lakers 38–20 in the 4th quarter, scoring a game-high 62 points in the paint against LA. The Lakers wrap up their six-game road trip at 2–4.
Malik Monk’s best outing in a Lakers uniform wasn’t enough to get the win, scoring his highest this season with 33 points on 63% (12-for-19) shooting, knocking down three threes in the 4th as he finished 8 for 14 (57%) overall from downtown, adding 10 rebounds and 5 assists in 37 minutes.
The Lakers haven’t found the grit, according to Malik Monk, to get through these bouts of lineup instability: “We know what we gotta do, we just have to put it together.”
Anthony Davis finished second on the team in points scored, ending the night with 27 points on 50% (10-for-20) shooting, adding 5 rebounds, a pair of steals, and a block in 38 minutes of action.
Russell Westbrook had another solid outing that was overshadowed by another disappointing Lakers loss, finishing the night with 20 points on 53% shooting, while also knocking down two threes, finishing 50% from downtown, adding 12 assists, and 7 rebounds in 35 minutes.
Davis spoke on Westbrooks versatility in games when he’s playing at a high level for the Lakers, saying: “When he’s playing the way he played in Charlotte, he adds more pressure on the defense and created more opportunities for everyone else.”
The Lakers’ next matchup comes at home against the 21–28 Portland Trail Blazers in their first home game in a four-game stretch.