Here is what you need to know before the Lakers take on the Atlanta Hawks.
1) Nick Young is making his season debut for the Lakers today after sitting the first 10 games due to a torn ligament in his right thumb. Last year, the Los Angeles native led the team in scoring with a career-high 17.9 points per game.
2) In 27 career games against Atlanta, Kobe Bryant has scored 22.4 points per contest — his lowest average against any opponent. The last time he faced the Hawks (Dec. 16, 2013), Bryant recorded just eight points on 4-for-14 shooting.
3) Rookie Jordan Clarkson has led the Lakers bench in scoring for three straight games. The former Missouri Tiger tallied 26 points during this stretch, including against Golden State on Sunday, when he reached double figures (10) for the first time in his career.
4) L.A. has not lost the season series to the Hawks since going 1-3 in 1978-79. However, the Lakers have also struggled in Atlanta, where they haven’t won since March 8, 2011 and have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games.
5) Paul Millsap leads the Hawks in both points (16.8) and rebounds (8.4). From 2008-09 to 2011-12, Millsap ranked in the NBA’s top three in personal fouls committed. However, as a first-time all-star last year, he cleaned up his game, tying for just 32nd in fouls (210). This year has been even better, as he is tied for 57th (27).
6) Kyle Korver is one of the game’s most dangerous shooters from beyond the arc. He is averaging more 3’s per game (3.3) than anyone else, and is third in 3-point percentage (57.7). Last season, Korver led the league by shooting 47.2 percent from 3-point range. The Lakewood, Calif., native needs just four triples to tie Tim Hardaway (1,542) for 18th on the league’s all-time made 3-pointers list.
7) Al Horford ranks fifth among active players in career field goal percentage. The Dominican has shot 54.0 percent in his seven seasons, trailing only Tyson Chandler (58.6), Dwight Howard (57.9), Nene Hilario (54.6) and Chris Wilcox (54.1).*
8) Atlanta is one of the NBA’s best teams at creating opportunities for teammates. The Hawks have an assist on 67.1 percent of their baskets, 2.0 percent better than second-place Miami. This passing is highlighted on Atlanta’s 3-pointers, 97.6 percent of which have come off assists, which also leads the league.
9) Due largely to their passing, the Hawks have been the league’s most successful catch-and-shoot team. Atlanta is scoring a league-high 36.9 catch-and-shoot points per game, and trails Orlando by just 0.1 percent for the NBA’s best catch-and-shoot percentage (46.4).
10) Atlanta has made the playoffs every year since 2006-07, which is best among all Eastern Conference teams. However, in those seven seasons the Hawks lost in the first round four times and never made it to the conference finals.
*Wilcox is active but not currently on a roster.