Lakers vs. Hawks preview: 9-2 Lakers take five-game win streak to Atlanta

The Los Angeles Lakers (9-2) play the Atlanta Hawks on the road Monday, November 9. They arrive on a five-game winning streak, the latest a 121-116 win at Detroit. The game is on Spectrum Sports Net and Spectrum Sports Net+. The Lakers are slight favorites in the early prices.

Our Los Angeles Lakers page is the full guide to the roster, schedule and season results. This preview covers what has changed this week heading into Atlanta.

Where the record stands

The Lakers are 9-2, according to ESPN. Their only losses are a 136-129 home loss to Portland and a 112-95 loss at Golden State. Since the Warriors game they have won five straight: Toronto (131-125), Miami (138-117), at Sacramento (116-103), Portland (124-118) and at Detroit (121-116).

The split is close to even. They are 5-1 at Crisp.com Arena and 4-1 on the road. Monday starts with the second game of a road stretch that began in Detroit.

The Lakers are averaging about 121.9 points and allowing about 114.5, for a margin of roughly 7.5 points per game. They have scored at least 116 in nine of their 11 games. The exceptions are the 103-87 win over the Clippers and the loss at Golden State, their only game under 100 points.

Injury report and lineup

The NBA's official injury report for Monday's game will show who is cleared to play. Treat any status before that filing as provisional. Game-time decisions are usually settled at shootaround or in pregame availability. The team's confirmed starting five is posted about 30 minutes before tip.

The main question is whether the Lakers stay with the rotation that has won five straight. They won the last two games by a combined 11 points. That includes a one-possession finish against Portland and a close game in Detroit after a cross-country trip, so they may need their full group again. Check the Lakers page on game day for the confirmed starters and any late scratches.

What the prices say

The Lakers are favored on the board for this game, which covers 12 venues. On Novig, one of those venues, the Lakers are -108 on the moneyline and the Hawks are +106. The spread is Lakers -1.5, priced at -102 on both sides. Sportsbook hold on the spread ranges from 2.9% to 5.4%. The market sees this as close to even, with only a small lean toward the team with the better record.

The total is 236.5 on Novig. DraftKings is at 237.5. Lakers games have averaged about 236.4 combined points this season, nearly the same as the line. Six of their 11 games went over that number. The full board, refreshed about every 10 minutes, is on our Lakers at Hawks odds page.

What to watch

The Lakers' biggest problem has been defense in high-scoring games. Portland scored 136 to beat them at home and 118 in the rematch. Toronto put up 125 in a Lakers win. Atlanta usually plays fast, so how the Lakers defend in transition could decide a game the market sees as close to even. A win would give the Lakers six straight and keep them at 10-2 or better through the first two weeks of November.