The Lakers cruised past the Hawks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, notching a dominant 141-116 win to improve to 24-14 on the season. It was a night where the stars showed up and the depth got some valuable run, as Los Angeles continues to build momentum in the thick of the Western Conference race.
LeBron James led the charge with 31 points, looking every bit as sharp and efficient as ever. Luka Dončić added 27 of his own, showcasing the kind of offensive rhythm that makes this Lakers team so dangerous when everything’s clicking. Atlanta, now 20-22, simply couldn’t keep pace.
One player who got some meaningful minutes in the blowout was rookie wing Dalton Knecht. The former Tennessee standout logged 15 minutes off the bench, finishing with two points on 1-of-3 shooting. While the box score won’t turn heads, it’s another step in Knecht’s development as he adjusts to the speed and physicality of the NBA game.
Knecht’s journey to this point is one worth noting. After transferring from Northern Colorado to Tennessee for the 2023-24 season, he quickly became one of the top scorers in college basketball. Under Rick Barnes, he averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, helping lead the Vols to an SEC regular-season title and a run to the Elite Eight - just the second time in school history they’ve reached that stage.
The Lakers took him 17th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, betting on his scoring instincts and ability to stretch the floor. Nights like this - even in limited minutes - are part of the long game. He’s learning the system, getting reps, and finding his spots alongside some of the biggest names in the league.
Next up for Los Angeles: a Thursday night matchup against Charlotte, back at Crypto.com Arena. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m.
EST. With the team firing on all cylinders and the bench getting more involved, the Lakers are starting to look like a squad that’s finding its stride at just the right time.