Luka Doncic believes the Los Angeles Lakers’ defense has room to grow, even as the team keeps adding wins.
After Monday’s 124-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, Doncic pointed to a defensive ranking that did not match his expectations.
Los Angeles entered the game 21st in defensive efficiency, despite a start that had already put the Lakers among the league’s early leaders.
“I think we can be way better than 21st,” Doncic said. “I think we have the potential for that.”
The ranking Doncic referenced was the Lakers’ position entering Monday’s matchup. His assessment followed a game in which he contributed five steals and two blocks, helping Los Angeles improve to 10-2 with its sixth consecutive victory.
Luka Doncic’s defensive activity helped Lakers beat Hawks
The NBA’s official box score shows how much disruption the Lakers created in Atlanta. They collected 16 steals, with Matisse Thybulle adding three and Ziaire Williams recording two alongside Doncic’s five.
Los Angeles turned Atlanta’s mistakes into 29 points off turnovers. The Lakers also blocked six shots, with Doncic accounting for two and four teammates contributing one apiece.
Those possessions helped support an offense playing without Austin Reaves and Quentin Grimes. Reaves was sidelined by illness, while Grimes missed the game with a right finger sprain.
Doncic finished with 32 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in his return after missing Sunday’s game with lower back tightness.
His defensive contributions gave the Lakers another way to create opportunities beyond relying on his scoring and passing.
Atlanta still found ways to pressure Lakers’ defense
The Hawks’ shooting and offensive rebounding offered a counterpoint to all those steals. Atlanta made 17-of-44 attempts from 3-point range and collected 12 offensive rebounds, compared with eight for Los Angeles.
| Category | Lakers | Hawks |
|---|---|---|
| Steals | 16 | 12 |
| Blocks | 6 | 6 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 12 |
| Second-chance points | 10 | 8 |
| Points off turnovers | 29 | 14 |
Atlanta did not fully capitalize on its extra chances, scoring only eight second-chance points. The Lakers actually won that scoring category despite collecting fewer offensive rebounds.
That distinction matters: the Hawks extended possessions, but those opportunities were not the biggest source of their offense Monday.
The perimeter was more productive. CJ McCollum made 3-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc, while Aaron Wiggins went 4-of-7. Together, they scored 36 points off Atlanta’s bench.
The Lakers allowed 35 points in the second quarter and 33 in the third before holding the Hawks to 24 in the fourth. Their largest lead was 20 points, yet the final margin was 10.
That combination explains why a night filled with defensive highlights could still leave room for improvement. Steals ended possessions in the Lakers’ favor, but Atlanta continued to find scoring elsewhere.
For Doncic, the winning streak has not changed the standard. The Lakers have shown they can generate takeaways; his expectation is that their overall defense can rise with them.
