LeBron James scored 30 points and Anthony Davis returned from a one-game absence to score 18 points with 19 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 119-102 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, passed Michael Jordan for most 30-point games in NBA history at 563.
Austin Reaves scored 20 points, while Rui Hachimura and rookie Dalton Knecht each had 13 as the Lakers improved to 7-2 since Dec. 15. Davis missed Thursday’s victory over the Portland Trail Blazers for injury management on a sore left ankle.
Trae Young scored 33 points and Jalen Johnson added 19 for the Hawks following his own missed game on Wednesday at Denver because of a sore shoulder.
Onyeka Okongwu scored 14 points with 11 rebounds, and Dyson Daniels had 13 points as Atlanta dropped its second consecutive game following a four-game win streak.
The Hawks, who entered with 117.9 points per game, fell to 1-2 on a six-game road trip that continues in with a game against the Clippers on Saturday before heading to Utah and Phoenix.
The Hawks were up by five points a mere three minutes into the game before the Lakers moved in front for good at 14-13 with 7:31 left in the first quarter. Los Angeles led by as many as 10 points late in the second quarter and was up 65-57 at the half.
Atlanta stayed competitive but went into the fourth quarter trailing 96-86 as Los Angeles shot 51.6 percent through three quarters and 52.6 percent (10 of 19) from 3-point range. The Lakers shot 48.9 percent overall and 43.3 percent from deep.
The Lakers effectively put the game away with four minutes remaining on consecutive 3-pointers from Hachimura and Reaves for a 115-98 lead.
The teams split the season series 1-1 after Atlanta’s overtime victory at home last month. It is the fourth time in the past five seasons they have split the season series.
–Field Level Media
