The Atlanta Hawks are looking to get back to their winning ways after a forgettable trip in Mile High City. They can do that as soon as this weekend when they start their California trip against the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Lakers are fresh off a win with their eyes on sustaining their newfound form.

Catch this game live on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 11:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Atlanta Hawks (18-16, 8-9 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Trae Young (Questionable)
  • Dyson Daniels
  • Zaccharie Risacher
  • Jalen Johnson (Questionable)
  • Clint Capela

The good times stopped rolling for Trae Young and the Hawks on Thursday, as they suffered a 139-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the second leg of their six-game road trip. Atlanta entered that contest on the heels of a four-game win streak, but Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets were simply too much for the Hawks. The Lakers present another tough challenge for Atlanta, but the Hawks have already pocketed a win this season at the expense of the Purple & Gold. On Dec. 7, the Hawks outlasted the Lakers in a 134-132 win via overtime at home. 

Young scattered a team-high 31 points against LA while also dishing out 20 assists. Atlanta also hit 17 trees on 40 attempts. Young is questionable for the Lakers rematch with a right hand contusion but it doesn’t seem serious enough to keep him sidelined this Saturday. Atlanta’s offense is clearly its strength, and that could manifest anew against the Lakers’ inconsistent defense that is allowing opponents to shoot 47.8 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from behind the arc. Also take note that Atlanta’s bench overpowered the Lakers’ backups, with De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic scoring 46 points together. LA’s bench, on the other hand, only had 17 points total.

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Home: Los Angeles Lakers (19-14, 11-5 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Austin Reaves
  • Max Christie
  • Rui Hachimura
  • LeBron James
  • Anthony Davis

The Lakers rebounded right away from their 114-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday by taking advantage of the lowly Portland Trail Blazers in a 114-106 home win on Friday. Although LA’s next game is the Lakers’ second of a back-to-back set, at least they don’t have to travel, as the meeting with Atlanta also takes place in Tinseltown. Speaking of which, the Lakers are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games as the home team. Additionally, the Lakers are 7-3 straight up and 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 home games versus the Hawks, dating back to the 2014-15 NBA season. 

One thing to monitor over the side of the Lakers is the status of Anthony Davis, who missed the Portland game with an ankle issue. But in reality, that could just be more rest for Davis, who can be expected to suit up this Saturday. In the first meeting with the Hawks, Davis and LeBron James took turns punishing Atlanta. Davis had 28 points while James produced a triple-double of 39 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Hopefully, the Lakers will get more from the others this time around against Atlanta’s flimsy defense that is giving up 119.4 points per outing. 

Picks

Spread: Atlanta Hawks (+4.0)

Over/Under: Over (231.5)

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