LeBron James scored 25 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds, while D’Angelo Russell scored 27 points and tied the Lakers’ single-season 3-pointer record in a 136-105 win against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
Six 3-pointers against the Hawks gave Russell 183 this season, passing Kobe Bryant’s 180 in 2005-06 and equal Nick Van Exel’s 1994-95 team record. Russell Һit a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer and two more early in the fourth to equal the record before the Lakers emptied their bench.
“That’s really cool, honestly,” Russell replied. “To get credit for your game and what you work to do and showcase every night, and then for something like this, it’s just really cool.”
Anthony Davis had 22 points and 15 rebounds, Russell had 10 assists, and the Lakers stopped a two-game slump with their 13th victory in 20 games since losing at Atlanta in late January.
Davis departed Saturday’s defeat to Golden State early with a scratched cornea in his left eye, but he healed fast enough to play a complete game against the Hawks. Davis declined goggles.
“I’ve been through that phase in high school,” said Davis, who wore prescription glasses and goggles in Chicago before getting corrective eye surgery some years ago. “That phase is over. I would have if the doctors had informed me I needed it, but I didn’t.”
With this victory and Golden State’s defeat to New York, Los Angeles, which hasn’t lost three consecutive since early January, rose to eighth in the Western Conference. James had another great game, scoring 65 points on 25-of-37 shooting in the prior two games while Russell and Davis played well.
“Bron is Bron, and it’s that time of year,” Davis added. “His shooting is great. He’s attacking, finding me𝚗. His defense is tight.”
Jalen Johnson scored 25 and Bogdan Bogdanovic 17 for the Hawks, who have lost four of five and three of four on their West Coast road trip.
“I thought we were ready to play, (but) there’s two Hall of Fаme players that were unselfish, and I thought they played really well,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said. It’s hard to defend against a team playing so well offensively. Harder when the ball doesn’t go in. We were punished for mistakes.”
Johnson collapsed in agony after twisting his ankle on landing with 6:47 left. Johnson left the floor seconds later on his own after returning from a sprained ankle two games earlier. Snyder doubted the new ιnjury’s seriousness.
After a 13-game layoff due to a damaged left toe, Atlanta’s Onyeka Okongwu scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in 19 minutes. Los Angeles native and USC standout Okongwu hadn’t played since Feb. 12, before the All-standout break.
Young missed his 12th consecutive game after hand surgery. He scored 26 points with six 3-pointers in the Hawks’ January 138-point win against the Lakers.
Los Angeles made 60% of their first-half shots and moved the ball well to draw away from the Hawks all night. Russell’s fourth 3-pointer beаt the buzzer to put the Lakers up 111-86 going into the fourth.