Lakers handle business against Hawks

It was paramount the Lakers did not drop another game after two straight losses against Western Conference rivals.  Desperately trying to get out of a play in spot, the Lakers had to take advantage of a hindered Atlanta Hawks team.

With Anthony Davis nursing an eye injury, LeBron James wanted to assert that energy and got the team off to a flying start. LeBron capped off an astounding first quarter with a crafty finish with his left hand. 

Even with the bothersome eye, Davis was able follow LeBron’s first quarter outburst and terrorize the Hawks’ centers. The Lakers put up 38 points in the first period, and brought intensity against a team who was fresh off a back-to-back.

The rest of the first half was smooth sailing for the purple and gold. The Hawks weren’t able to build any momentum heading into halftime, as the Lakers carried a 14-point lead into the break. 

The third quarter remained stellar for the dynamic duo as LeBron was dishing out assists, and the Brow was flushing the ball down the rim. They ballooned their lead, going on an 11-2 run until the 5-minute mark.

D’Angelo Russell also added to the Laker highlight real, scoring a 3-point buzzer beater off of one foot, lifting their lead to 25 heading into the fourth quarter. The Lakers would end up cruising to a 136-105 victory, but not before Laker history was made. 

On top of a 27 point performance, Russell tied Nick Van Exel’s three point franchise record at 183. He was able to reflect on what the record means to him after the Laker win.

“It’s another beautiful feeling knowing what this organization means to me, obviously its adopted me from a very young age, being a rookie in this league…I give the credit to the work I’ve put in.” He said.

Russell and the rest of the Lakers starters had a combined 103 points, and it’s evident that this must be their identity going forward. Inconsistency from their starting line-up will not lead them to any kind of success.

The question remains whether they can replicate this against the West’s top teams. The Lakers will prepare for that challenge when they matchup against the 76ers on Friday.

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