Luka Dončić returned from a one-game absence to record 32 points and 10 assists on Monday, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena and extending their winning streak to six games, according to ESPN.
Luka Dončić Orchestrates the Offense in Atlanta
Dončić stepped back onto the floor after sitting out Sunday’s win in Detroit due to lower back tightness. Though his recent four-game run of scoring 40 or more points came to an end, the superstar distributed the ball efficiently against Atlanta’s defense, finishing the night with eight rebounds, five steals, and two blocks in 39 minutes.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 3 of the 2026-27 season (Nov. 2-8). pic.twitter.com/vdH60LaLdx
Playing in the venue where he previously scored a career-high 73 points against the Hawks on Jan. 26, 2024, Dončić shot 11-for-22 from the field, went 3-for-11 from deep, and hit all seven of his free-throw attempts while committing six turnovers.
“Luka again, you know, [was] just orchestrating,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
Reaves and Grimes had combined for 55 points and eight assists the previous day in a win over the Detroit Pistons. Los Angeles built a 20-point lead in the second quarter and maintained control for 79% of the game.
Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Sexton Lead Lakers Scoring
Collin Sexton, tasked with handling the ball more with Reaves unavailable, finished with 18 points and six assists, connecting on back-to-back alley-oops with Kessler during the second quarter.
Off the bench, Sandro Mamukelashvili provided a massive scoring spark with a season-high 23 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in 32 minutes, shooting 7-for-13 overall and knocking down five of eight three-point attempts.
Ziaire Williams added 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting as the Lakers’ bench scored 49 points. Los Angeles shot 52.9% from the field by hitting 45 of 85 shots, converted 15 of 35 attempts from 3-point range at a 43% clip, and shot 82.6% from the free-throw line while generating 30 assists.
Lakers Defense Forces 19 Turnovers to End Hawks Winning Streak
Los Angeles entered the matchup ranked No. 21 in the league in defensive efficiency but forced 19 Atlanta turnovers—above the Hawks’ 14.5 average—and converted those miscues into 29 points. The Lakers recorded 16 steals overall, with Matisse Thybulle contributing three steals and one block in 23 minutes alongside Dončić’s five steals. The defensive pressure helped cool down an Atlanta squad that came in riding a four-game winning streak.
“I think we can be way better than 21st,” Doncic said.
CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 21 points on 8-for-15 shooting off the bench, leading seven Atlanta players who scored in double figures. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points, and Onyeka Okongwu finished with 16 points for the Hawks, who dropped to a 7-5 record. Atlanta shot 45.5% overall by making 40 of 88 shots.
The victory improves the Lakers’ record to 10-2, keeping them positioned at the top of the league standings as their road trip continues.
Earlier coverage: Luka Doncic Scores 40 Points to Lead Lakers Past Kings
