The Allstar scored 21 points, including the final nine points of the game for the Lakers, and also made a vital defensive play as the Lakers hold off the Hawks 107-99 in Atlanta on Monday night.
Atlanta had managed to cut a 10-point deficit to one point but James made a 3-pointer with 1:12 left to regain the momentum.
He then came from behind to block Clint Capela’s shot, making a basket at the other end to push the lead back to six. James also shot 4-for-4 at the line in the final 19 seconds to secure the win.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 25 points as Dennis Schroder also scored 16 against his former team. The Lakers were 5-2 on the road trip and have won two straight.
The Hawks got 25 points and a season-high 16 assists from their best player Trae Young, 22 points from John Collins, and 16 points and 13 rebounds from Capela.
Neither team was able to take control in the first half, with the Lakers leading by as many as seven and the Hawks by four. Los Angeles was up 28-25 after one quarter and took a 50-46 lead into halftime thanks to a late 3-pointer by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
The Lakers appeared to have taken control of the game with a 16-0 run that began in the third quarter but the Hawks got to within one point when Young hit a 3-pointer from just inside halfcourt to make it 98-97.
The Hawks were playing without De’Andre Hunter, the team’s second-leading scorer, because of discomfort in his right knee. Hunter underwent an undisclosed non-surgical procedure on Saturday.
