Atlanta Hawks 134-132 Los Angeles Lakers, NBA: Lebron James Rues Missing 'Big Pieces'

LeBron James said that the Los Angeles Lakers are still trying to figure out ways to cope with the absence of key players after a 134-132 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks. (More NBA News)

🏅James led the Lakers with 39 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, but that didn't stop his side from falling to their seventh defeat in nine games. 

ꦐAustin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes were among the players who were unavailable for the Lakers in their narrow defeat to the Hawks. 

🥀"Mismatching with line-ups, we're trying to figure out ways, obviously," James said. 

💮"So it's very challenging. We don't have much room for error. It's big, big, big, big pieces.

✱"I don't know as far as what will get us over the hump. We just got to just not drown. Don't drown and we'll be all right."

🐻Anthony Davis scored 38 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers, while Dalton Knecht bagged 14 points. 

ꩲGabe Vincent's three-pointer had given the Lakers a 130-127 lead with 1:44 left in overtime, but Dyson Daniels and Davis then scored baskets for their sides before Jalen Johnson cut the gap to one for the Hawks.

ღIt was Trae Young who then hit the three-pointer with 7.4 seconds left in overtime that gave the Hawks the last-gasp victory. 

꧙Young ended the game as the Hawks' top scorer with 31 points and 20 assists, while De'Andre Hunter bagged 26 off the bench as Atlanta won their sixth game in a row. 

🌠"There's no cavalry. No one feels sorry for us. We can't feel sorry for ourselves," said Davis of the Lakers after the game. 

ꦑ"We just got to continue to put our head down and grind and work. Try to get back in the win column on Sunday against Portland [Trail Blazers]. No game's going to be easy for us, so we got to go take the win."