Los Angeles Lakers vs Atlanta Hawks Prediction & Picks - NBA

Prediction published on 1/13/26, 7:18 PM  by Erik Gibbs | Modified on 1/14/26 at 12:55 AM in NBA Picks

The Atlanta Hawks and the LA Lakers meet tonight at Crypto.com Arena in a matchup that brings together two teams trending in different directions. Atlanta arrives with confidence and rhythm, while Los Angeles is searching for consistency as it navigates another short-handed stretch.

Atlanta has quietly put together a strong run, winning five of its last seven games and riding a three-game winning streak into this contest. That momentum was reinforced on Sunday with an impressive 124-111 road victory over the Golden State Warriors, a game in which the Hawks controlled the pace and shot the ball with authority.

Defensively, the Hawks have been solid if not spectacular. They are allowing opponents to shoot 35.1% from beyond the arc, a respectable figure in today's perimeter-heavy NBA, and they are pulling down an average of 42 rebounds per game. That rebounding edge has helped them limit second-chance opportunities and turn stops into transition chances, which has been a key factor in their recent success.

The Lakers, meanwhile, have been hovering around .500 form lately, winning four of their last seven games. They are coming off a frustrating 105-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, a game that slipped away late despite a competitive effort. Los Angeles is shooting 34.2% from three-point range and 77.6% from the free-throw line, numbers that underline some ongoing efficiency issues on the offensive end. Defensively, the Lakers are allowing 36.8% shooting from deep and are averaging 41.4 rebounds per game, slightly below Atlanta's output on the glass.