Lakers get a major boost from an unexpected source in sixth straight victory

The Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks 124-114 to claim their sixth consecutive win, improving their season record to 10-2. The victory mattered because they secured it without Austin Reaves, their second-best playmaker, who missed the game through illness, and without needing Luka Dončić to extend his 40-point scoring streak.

Dončić finished with 32 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks. Sandro Mamukelashvili supplied a season-high 23 points, while Collin Sexton added 18 points and six assists off the bench; Walker Kessler recorded 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers recovered from an early 15-7 deficit, led by as many as 20 and held off Atlanta before closing with a 9-3 run.