ATLANTA (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers’ five-game road trip got off to a rough start on Saturday night with a 122-102 loss to an injury-depleted Atlanta Hawks team. The defeat left Lakers coach JJ Redick visibly frustrated.
The Lakers’ only lead of the game was by a single point, less than two minutes into the contest. After the game, Redick kept his comments brief; he answered six questions, all in a sentence or less, and the entire press conference lasted under two minutes.
The Hawks came out strong from the outset. By halftime, Atlanta held a 68-54 lead. They extended their advantage to 90-65 in the third quarter, prompting Redick to pull star player Luka Doncic, who finished with 22 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds.
When asked if there was a moment in the third quarter where he realized the starting five wouldn’t have the impact he hoped for, Redick responded, “I realized that in the first two minutes of the game.”
Despite missing three of their usual starters—Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Nikola Durisic, and Jalen Johnson—along with All-Star Trae Young and Kristaps Porzingis, the Hawks relied on their bench. Zaccharie Risacher, Onyeka Okongwu, Keaton Wallace, Dyson Daniels, and Mouhamed Gueye started the game for Atlanta.
Gueye had a career-high 21 points, while Daniels recorded a career-best 13 assists, along with 10 points and eight rebounds. Rookie Asa Newell also made a strong impression with 17 points, five rebounds, four steals, and a block.
Redick acknowledged that Atlanta “brought the requisite level of effort and urgency and physicality,” implying that his Lakers team did not meet that standard.
The Lakers will next head to Charlotte for a Monday night matchup against the Hornets. Following that, they face the Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans, and Milwaukee Bucks before returning to Los Angeles.
The Hawks, meanwhile, will take on the Los Angeles Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday night.
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/frustrated-lakers-coach-jj-redick-061314033.html
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