The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their first blowout loss of the new NBA season on Saturday when they were routed by a very short-handed Atlanta Hawks team by 20 points. They were never truly competitive at any point in the game, and head coach JJ Redick didn’t hide his disgust afterward.
That game marked the start of a five-game road trip for the Lakers, who now have a 7-3 record. They will be back at work on Monday against the 3-6 Charlotte Hornets, and they will have the opportunity to continue building the strong foundation and good habits that had been forming prior to Saturday.
Guard Austin Reaves, who seemed to be on an All-Star trajectory to start the season, has missed L.A.’s last three games due to a groin strain. On the team’s injury report for Monday, he has been upgraded to questionable.
Groin injuries have to be treated with caution because of their propensity to become re-aggravated if a player returns before he has healed enough. Reaves suffered the ailment last Sunday early in a game against the Miami Heat, but he continued playing after getting hurt.
LeBron James continues to be out with sciatica, but he is reportedly progressing, and his 2025-26 debut may not be far away.
Los Angeles will play the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday after it matches up with the Hornets on Monday. It will return home to host the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, Nov. 18.