Austin Reaves did his best Luka Doncic impersonation and it worked to perfection. The Lakers increased their win streak to 5 games in a row with a huge 121-116 win in Detroit, Reaves went off for a season-high 43 points. Doncic’s back tightness should heal ahead of Monday’s game against the Hawks, as LA tries to win on a back-to-back scenario. Luka always plays with an extra chip on his shoulder versus the team that traded him away on draft night. We all still remember his 73-point burst against the Hawks as a member of Dallas, and with the way he’s played lately, could something similar be on display in Monday’s game?
Atlanta’s defense hasn’t exactly been confidence-inspiring to start the season. They rank 20th in opponent points per game (115.5) with that number increasing to 119.3 per game in their last 3 games. They play a very high tempo at home, scoring a lot of points, but they also give up a lot (122.8), which could be problematic against one of the most prolific offenses in the NBA right now. Atlanta is also on a four-game win streak, but unlike the Lakers, who faced some stiff opponents during their run, the Hawks beat the Pacers, Wizards (twice) and Nets, with three of those games being decided by seven points or less.
Normally I would hesitate backing a team on a back-to-back scenario, but if Luka plays here, this is an ideal match-up for LA. I’d recommend waiting until the lineups are announced before placing any bets, but let’s go with the Lakers to cover on the road.
Lakers vs Hawks prediction: Lakers -1.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.
