The Atlanta Hawks are back in action Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers and look to bounce back after giving away a game over the weekend to the Knicks. Atlanta shot 61 percent from the field in Saturday's game but it wasn't enough to overcome a season-high 27 turnovers. The Hawks will look for better execution on Monday when they take on an injury riddled Lakers squad.
L.A.'s problems of late stem from a lack of health at the point guard position. Neither Steve Blake nor Jordan Farmar will play on Monday night and Steve Nash is currently listed as doubtful. That means that point guard duties could fall once again to Kobe Bryant.
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Bryant started at the point on Saturday and helped lead the Lakers to a come-from-behind win over the Charlotte Bobcats. Bryant finished with 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in just his fourth game back from an Achilles injury. The Lakers are 11-12 on the season and currently in the middle of a four-game road trip.
Atlanta is 12-12 on the season and would be well served for point guard Jeff Teague to get back on track. Teague played just 27 minutes against the Knicks on Saturday and was hardly a factor finishing with four points, six assists and four turnovers. Mike Budenholzer elected to go with a backcourt combination of Lou Williams and Shelvin Mack down the stretch but the Hawks desperately need Teague to get back in the flow offensively.
Williams did put up his best game on Saturday since returning from last season's ACL injury finishing with 27 points on 9-16 shooting and six made threes.
Hawks center Gustavo Ayon is listed as questionable due to an ankle injury. Ayon has sat out each of the last three games.
Game Info
Game date/time: Monday, December 16 7:30 p.m.
Location: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: SportSouth
Radio: 92.9 FM "The Game"