Atlanta Hawks vs Los Angeles Lakers predictions, Digi Mart USA News: Winning against the Brooklyn Nets is one thing. The Atlanta Hawks won that game because they had better talent than Brooklyn, and for the last four minutes of the game, that talent separated itself.
However, that formula won’t work against the Lakers.
Los Angeles is currently 7th in net rating and has the best offensive rating in the league. The trio of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler has been stellar so far in their 188 minutes together, posting a net rating of +24.9 when on the court.
This team is going to challenge Atlanta in several ways, and it will be good to see how the Hawks respond against a very talented Lakers squad led by an MVP candidate.
Here are three bold predictions for tonight’s game.
The Lakers have won five straight games, but not necessarily through strong perimeter defense. LA concedes 37.5% from deep, the sixth-worst mark in the NBA.
Atlanta’s shooting has been one of its strengths, and there are plenty of capable floor spacers on the roster. The Hawks average the fourth-most makes in the league and the third-most attempts, so this is a team that relies heavily on the three-ball falling.
The writer expects NAW, CJ and Aaron Wiggins to have big shooting games, with Jalen Johnson’s three-point shot also finally regressing positively toward its usual levels.
As a rookie point guard, Flemings is already averaging 4.4 assists per game. These are not empty assists: teammates are shooting 78% on the passes he throws to them, which is in the 82nd percentile of all point guards.
He has a knack for seeing the court and finding the exact moment to thread a pass to the open man.
The turnovers are a little high, but the Lakers are a strong opponent for Flemings to showcase his playmaking against. They rank 3rd in steals, which could lead to turnovers if they blitz him.
However, they also concede the 10th-most transition points per game, which could lead to easy assists for the young guard if LA’s defense cannot get back fast enough.
Johnson has not played very well to start the season, but he looked surgical in the halfcourt during the fourth quarter against the Nets. That needs to carry over into the matchup with LA if the Hawks want to win.
The writer thinks Johnson is set up for a massive game as a rebounder and passer. LA ranks 28th in defensive rebounds per game, so there is little resistance outside of Walker Kessler on the boards.
Additionally, LA forces many turnovers, but it no longer has a strong, physical defender like LeBron on the roster to bother Johnson. Johnson has struggled against LA and has averaged 15.9 points on a 41.7 TS% over 47 possessions against James since 2024.
That matchup is no longer one he has to worry about. Matisse Thybulle and Jake LaRavia can be serviceable at times, but neither is strong enough to handle Johnson’s physicality, and they are not well prepared for his burst.
Thybulle might record a few steals off Johnson, but the writer expects him to have a strong game against LA and continue building back into the player who sparked excitement about his future as a No. 1 option.
