An uncertain showdown between two teams that have shown both their best and worst in this first month and a half of the regular season. The Los Angeles Lakers (12-10) will try to redeem themselves after embarrassing recent losses to the Timberwolves and Heat, while the Atlanta Hawks (12-11) look to keep rolling with their sixth straight victory.
Date and time for Lakers vs. Hawks
Date: December 6.
Time: Below are the local tipoff times for the Lakers vs. Hawks depending on the time zone.
| Spain (mainland), France, and Italy | 01:30 |
| Dominican Republic, USA (Boston, New York, Miami), Puerto Rico, and Venezuela | 20:30 |
| Mexico (Central), El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua | 18:30 |
| Mexico (Pacific) and USA (Los Angeles) | 16:30 |
| Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay | 21:30 |
| Colombia, Ecuador, USA (Chicago and Texas), Peru, and Panama | 18:30 |
Venue: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, Georgia)
Projected lineups for Lakers vs. Hawks
The Los Angeles Lakers have a packed injury list: Jaxson Hayes, Austin Reaves, Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jalen Hood-Schifino are out, while LeBron James is listed as questionable. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks head into this home matchup at nearly full strength, except for Cody Zeller’s absence.
| Lakers | Hawks |
| D’Angelo Russell | Trae Young |
| Dalton Knecht | Dyson Daniels |
| Rui Hachimura | Zaccharie Risacher |
| LeBron James | Jalen Johnson |
| Anthony Davis | Clint Capela |
Latest on the Lakers: injuries and current form
What can be said about the Lakers. Their promising start to the season has given way to one of the franchise’s worst weeks in recent memory. They have dropped six of their last eight games and, since November 22, own the second-worst Net Rating in the NBA: opponents are beating them by 15.0 points per 100 possessions, a number only worse for the Washington Wizards.
The worst part isn’t just the losses, but the poor level of play and the team’s lack of response. After getting blown out by 29 points on Monday at Minnesota, the Lakers looked even worse against the Miami Heat, suffering a 134–93 rout. They had never before lost two straight games by a combined margin of 70. Never.
Coach J.J. Redick didn’t hesitate to label the team’s performance “embarrassing,” criticized the players’ professionalism, and took a shot at his stars by saying no one is stepping up in this moment of leadership need. In fact, both Anthony Davis and LeBron James have taken a step back in production, prompting many to worry they may have already burned much of their fuel in the first month of the season.
Player to watch: LeBron James
Less than a month away from turning 40, LeBron has been the one carrying the load in these tough weeks. He contributed 29 points and 8 assists against the Heat, one of the lone bright spots in a dismal loss, but he’s being dragged down by the team’s losing mindset. The bigger concern is that he insists on playing every regular-season game, which poses a threat to what remains of the Lakers’ hopes. Either way, they need the best version of LeBron —and especially Anthony Davis— to stay afloat. Granted, they’ll have to manage minutes carefully.
Latest on the Hawks: injuries and current form
The Atlanta Hawks are living on the opposite —positive— side of the coin. They recently clinched a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals and, on Wednesday, extended their winning streak to five games by snapping the Milwaukee Bucks’ own seven-game run.
Even though this success has overlapped with the most prolific version of Trae Young’s playmaking—shared with Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Bogdan Bogdanovic—coach Quin Snyder believes the key has been defense. And he has a point: they held the Bucks to just 17 points in the final quarter and boast the third-best defense in the NBA over the last five games.
They also have plenty of firepower, as eight players are putting up double-digit scoring averages. Young and Johnson both top 20 points per game, while De’Andre Hunter and Daniels have established themselves as balanced contributors on both ends, with Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela splitting interior duties. Essentially, they have a lot going for them as they aim for a sixth straight win.
Player to watch: Trae Young
The shots aren’t falling—he’s posting the worst shooting percentages of his career—but he’s more mature and decisive in his playmaking than ever. There’s a reason the talented Trae Young leads the NBA in assists (12.0). We long argued he needed to share the creation duties and embrace off-ball situations to benefit the Hawks collectively. So far, that’s exactly what he’s doing. On offense, the Hawks score 6.2 more points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. And Daniels covers for him on defense. Everyone comes out ahead.
Lakers vs. Hawks: head-to-head history
The Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks have yet to meet this season. Last year, they split their two matchups, with each team winning at home. Historically, though, the Lakers hold a clear edge: they’ve recorded 197 victories against the Hawks’ 143.
Predictions for Lakers vs. Hawks
Which Lakers team will we see? Maybe it’s time to admit that the Lakers’ level in those first two weeks was just an illusion. Still, the dramatic downturn is hard to comprehend. Against Miami, any cut to the basket or screen from Erik Spoelstra’s squad turned into an easy layup or an open jumper. That’s not just a talent issue; it’s a colossal lack of communication, intensity, and desire. If the Lakers take that same attitude into State Farm Arena, the Hawks will blow them out.
Defensive battle. The Lakers shone on offense early in the season, and Atlanta has plenty of weapons to put pressure on opponents. Even so, defense is what has allowed both teams to stand out in their respective goals. That’s how the Lakers won the 2020 title, and it’s how the Hawks have turned things around in recent weeks: by defending.
Solutions off the bench? On paper, the Hawks have it easier: their bench contributes 40.4 points per game (4th), while the Lakers’ second unit barely averages 24.5 (29th). That gap likely won’t change much given the Lakers’ long injury list. Can players like Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, or Cam Reddish step up and play hero?
Where to watch Lakers vs. Hawks
The game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks will be available in Spain through an NBA League Pass subscription.
