Wilt Chamberlain once made 40-point games look almost routine. During the 1961-62 season, the Philadelphia Warriors legend recorded two separate streaks of 14 consecutive games with at least 40 points. More than six decades later, reaching even five in a row remains an achievement reserved for an incredibly small group of NBA stars.

Luka Doncic was chasing that company on Monday night. The Lakers superstar entered Atlanta looking to extend his four-game run and move closer to joining Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Elgin Baylor and James Harden. But the night brought more than another scoring performance, especially when the Atlanta crowd got involved.

“You all wish you would have had me. You all wish, huh?”

That was Doncic’s message to Hawks fans during a verbal exchange in Atlanta, where the crowd was reminded of the franchise’s decision to trade him on draft night in 2018. The interaction added another layer to a night in which Luka’s historic scoring run came to an end, but his importance to the Lakers was on full display. He finished with 32 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists as Los Angeles secured a 124-114 victory.

The result also extended the Lakers’ winning streak to six games, taking them to 10-2 for the season. Atlanta, meanwhile, saw its own four-game winning streak come to an end after failing to complete a comeback that once looked very possible.

Luka’s streak ends, but his playmaking takes over

The scoring streak was no ordinary run. Only six players had previously recorded at least five consecutive 40-point games in NBA history, with Chamberlain accomplishing the feat 11 times, Bryant three times and Jordan twice. Harden, Baylor and Iverson were the other players to reach that mark.

Chamberlain’s dominance remains on another level. His 14-game streaks during the 1961-62 season stand as the benchmark, while Bryant and Jordan each managed nine consecutive 40-point performances. Luka had the opportunity to become the seventh player to reach five straight, but Atlanta kept him below that mark.

Doncic’s 32 points came on 11-of-22 shooting from the field, including 3-of-11 from beyond the arc. He also converted seven of his nine free throws, while adding five steals and two blocks. His six turnovers were another reminder that the night wasn’t entirely smooth, even as he found other ways to influence the game.

His return was also worth watching after he missed the previous game against Detroit with lower-back tightness. There was no reported minutes restriction, and he played a major role in getting the Lakers’ offense moving. Rather than forcing his way towards another 40-point performance, Luka spent much of the first half creating opportunities for the players around him.

He had eight assists before halftime alone. Walker Kessler benefited particularly from that playmaking, repeatedly finding room around the basket as the Lakers built their advantage. JJ Redick noticed how naturally Doncic shifted into that role.

“Luka again, you know, [was] just orchestrating. I thought he was really just a willing passer. He ended up with 10 assists, but could have had 15, 16 assists.”

That approach became particularly important because the Lakers were missing two guards. Austin Reaves was unavailable because of illness after scoring a season-high 43 points against Detroit, while Quentin Grimes was sidelined with a sprained right finger. Grimes’ X-rays were negative, with Redick indicating that he could return as soon as Wednesday.

Losing both players left Los Angeles needing additional ball-handling and scoring from elsewhere. Ziaire Williams returned to the starting lineup and contributed 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili provided important production off the bench.

Redick was pleased with how the group responded to those absences.

“The last two games have been a great example of next guy up. And I’ve talked about this before; there’s a compounding effect to having the guys out of the lineup. Do you have enough ball-handling on the floor, enough rebounding on the floor, or enough shooting on the floor?”

“You lose AR, you lose Q, and now you’re down a couple of guys, so I thought Collin did a really nice job of attacking the paint, scoring, giving us some juice, especially in the first half.”

Sexton certainly made the most of his opportunity. He finished with 18 points and six assists in 26:32, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range. His aggression also helped unlock another important part of the Lakers’ offense.

Sexton and Kessler give the Lakers an unexpected boost

Walker Kessler finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. The center scored 15 points in the first half, repeatedly finding opportunities near the rim as Sexton attacked Atlanta’s defense.

The two connected for three alley-oop dunks, giving the Lakers an effective way to punish the Hawks whenever their defense focused too heavily on the ball. Kessler’s sixth double-double in seven games also showed how important his presence had become inside.

For Sexton, the performance was about more than simply filling the minutes left behind by Reaves and Grimes. He was trusted to organize the offense, attack the paint and create for others, something Redick wanted to see more consistently from him.

However, his night also included one moment that left the Lakers’ head coach questioning the officials. With 6:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, Sexton converted a driving floater and appeared to expect a foul call. Instead, he was assessed a technical foul.

Redick didn’t hide his confusion when asked about the decision.

“Well, he got a technical for talking to himself; I don’t understand that one.”

“But I think the biggest thing we’re trying to do is get organized. And there are glimpses of really good organization when he’s out there as the primary ball handler.”

The technical gave Atlanta an additional free throw as the Hawks were attempting to claw their way back. It also provided another talking point from a game in which the Lakers had already allowed a comfortable advantage to slip away.

And Atlanta was not finished making things uncomfortable.

Atlanta nearly turns a 20-point deficit into a stunning comeback

The Lakers had looked comfortable for much of the first half, building a 20-point advantage and heading into the break with a 68-57 lead. But Atlanta gradually found its rhythm, outscoring Los Angeles 33-27 in the third quarter and giving the visitors a much tougher finish than expected.

CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 21 points off the bench, shooting 8-of-15 from the field. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points, while Onyeka Okongwu finished with 16. Jalen Johnson contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists as Atlanta tried to find a way back into the contest.

Dyson Daniels also had an important role at both ends of the floor. He finished with 10 points, eight assists and four steals while taking on the challenge of defending Doncic. His defensive work and playmaking helped Atlanta stay within reach even as the Lakers continued to find answers.

The Hawks eventually brought the deficit down to 115-111 with approximately three and a half minutes remaining. A game that had appeared firmly under Los Angeles’ control was suddenly within reach, and the Lakers needed someone to stop the momentum before Atlanta completed the comeback.

Doncic helped provide that answer. He drove to the basket for a layup before the Lakers produced two more important scores to turn a four-point game into a 121-111 advantage.

Ziaire Williams intercepted an inbounds pass from Jalen Johnson and finished with a dunk. Doncic then found Jake LaRavia, who drove to the basket for another dunk, completing the decisive 6-0 stretch.

The sequence gave Los Angeles the breathing room it desperately needed. The Lakers eventually closed out the 124-114 victory, ending Atlanta’s four-game winning streak while extending their own run to six games.

It was also a reminder that Doncic’s value extends well beyond how many points he scores. Even on a night when his four-game run of 40-point performances ended, his passing and involvement in the closing stretch helped keep the Lakers in control when the result was threatened.

Luka makes sure a Lakers rookie gets his moment

There was another moment from the game that had little to do with the final score but offered a glimpse into the Lakers’ locker-room atmosphere. Cameron Carr, the team’s 24th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, recorded his first NBA points with a two-handed transition dunk.

The play came towards the end of the first quarter. Doncic forced a steal, pushed the ball forward and found Carr running towards the basket. The rookie finished the opportunity, giving himself a moment he will remember long after the game.

Carr had waited for his NBA debut after suffering a right oblique strain during preseason. He had also spent time with the Coachella Valley Lakers in the G League, making his first points in the league an especially meaningful milestone.

Doncic made sure the rookie received the game ball after the final buzzer. He explained why securing it was important to him.

“Yeah obviously you know you always wanna remember your first bucket, you know? And you wanna get that ball so it was kind of important for me to grab it.”

“He was good, he was very good. It’s not easy to just get in the game and play the game so he was very good. He’s just got to keep building on it.”

It was a small gesture, but one that made the occasion even more special for Carr. His mother, Tanya Carr, also shared the moment on X, writing, “Can’t love this more!”

And Carr wasn’t the only Laker with a reason to celebrate after an impressive individual performance.

Sandro Mamukelashvili delivered one of his best nights in a Lakers uniform, finishing with a season-high 23 points in 32 minutes. He added eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block while shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.

He was also perfect from the free-throw line, converting all four attempts. His contribution gave Los Angeles another scoring option on a night when Reaves and Grimes were unavailable, helping the team avoid putting the entire offensive burden on Doncic.

Redick was particularly pleased with Mamukelashvili’s performance, calling it “his best game as a Laker.” The forward’s three-point shooting and ability to contribute across the floor made him one of the biggest beneficiaries of the opportunities created by the absences.

There was even a lighter moment when Mamukelashvili was asked whether it was his best game as a Laker. The locker room responded with a collective “aww,” adding some humor to an otherwise eventful night.

For the Lakers, the victory brought several positives beyond the result. Kessler continued his productive run, Sexton showed he could handle additional playmaking duties, Williams stepped into the starting lineup and Carr secured a milestone he will remember for years.

Doncic, meanwhile, walked away with 32 points, 10 assists and another win, even if the historical scoring streak he had been chasing was no longer alive.

The five-game mark will have to wait. But with the Lakers now riding a six-game winning streak and finding contributions from across the rotation, Atlanta gave them another reason to feel good about the direction of their season.