The Los Angeles Lakers opened their five-game road trip on a rough note on Nov. 8, suffering a 122-102 defeat to the injury-hit Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta. The loss left head coach JJ Redick visibly frustrated, answering just six postgame questions in under two minutes.

Atlanta established control early and never let up. The Lakers briefly held a one-point lead less than two minutes into the game before the Hawks surged ahead, entering halftime up 68-54. By the third quarter, the gap widened to 90-65, prompting Redick to pull Luka Doncic, who finished with 22 points, 11 assists and five rebounds.

Redick cuts press conference short after slow start

Redick was blunt when asked if there was a point where he felt the starting lineup wouldn’t deliver the impact he expected, responding, “I realized that in the first two minutes of the game.” His comments underscored a performance he felt lacked effort and urgency in the early stages.

Even without multiple key players — including Trae Young, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Nikola Durisic, Jalen Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis — Atlanta set the tone and dictated the pace throughout the contest.

@espn JJ Redick was not pleased with his #Lakers team after their loss to the Nets. #NBA #Basketball #LA ♬ original sound – ESPN

Young Hawks step up as LA searches for answers

Zaccharie Risacher, Onyeka Okongwu, Keaton Wallace, Dyson Daniels and Mouhamed Gueye started for the Hawks, and the young group delivered. Gueye posted a career-high 21 points, while Daniels added 13 assists, 10 points and eight rebounds. Rookie Asa Newell also impressed with 17 points, five rebounds, four steals and a block.

Redick credited Atlanta for bringing “effort and urgency and physicality,” while implying his roster did not match that level. The Lakers now travel to Charlotte for a Nov. 10 matchup before continuing their road swing against the Thunder, Pelicans and Bucks. Atlanta heads west to face the Clippers on Nov. 10.