LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers have the NBAs highest-scoring bench and remarkable balance throughout their roster, as the Atlanta Hawks discovered for the second time this month.Just 18 games removed from the worst season in franchise history, the Lakers are capable of handling the absence of two injured starters without a hitch.Lou Williams scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, Jordan Clarkson added 18 points and the Lakers beat the Hawks 109-94 on Sunday night without DAngelo Russell or Julius Randle.Nick Young scored 17 points as the Lakers swept their season series with Atlanta in a confident performance that featured 10 players getting significant minutes and eight players scoring at least seven points. That prolific group of reserves piled up 65 points, but coach Luke Walton was more pleased by its shutdown work in an 18-2 run shortly before halftime.The energy that the second unit brought on the defensive end in the second quarter changed the outcome of that game, Walton said. Its what weve been preaching all year, but it was really the first time that we saw all five guys on the court talking defensively. ... I think we carried the momentum through from that point on.Kent Bazemore scored 21 points and Dwight Howard added 19 points and nine rebounds amid constant boos for the Hawks, who have lost five of six after a 9-2 start to the season.Its not going to happen overnight, but we showed signs of being able to do it, Bazemore said. Thats the task for us now. I understand the ups and downs of it, and its all about staying positive, staying together. Everybody knows we have the team and the personnel to get it done.The Lakers won at Atlanta 123-116 earlier this month, with Williams scoring 16 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter in his home state against his former team. In the rematch, the Hawks couldnt match their strong start during the second half when the Lakers rolled out their depth.Its no longer a stroll through LA, Bazemore said. Theyre playing well. Theyve got a ton of pieces, and they all fit well together.UNCLE P RETURNSRandle missed his third game with a hip pointer, and Russell is out for at least two weeks to rest a sore left knee. But Young returned to the lineup after missing Fridays loss to Golden State with a sprained toe, and he immediately made another big impact in his resurgent season.Young scored 12 points in the second quarter, hitting three of his four first-half 3-pointers while the Lakers swiftly turned a 13-point deficit into an 11-point lead.BOOING DWIGHTAlthough Howard wore a new uniform, he constantly received the same vociferous disdain that will follow him at Staples Center for his entire career. The big center spurned the Lakers in free agency in 2013 after one tumultuous season alongside Kobe Bryant, taking $20 million less than Los Angeles offered him and signing with Houston.Howard scored 13 points in the first quarter, but made little impact afterward.I didnt hear boos, Howard claimed. I closed my ears.GETTING IT TOGETHERLos Angeles (9-9) won for just the second time in six games during a brutal part of its schedule. The Lakers have a weird road swing with four games in five nights starting Tuesday.We are going from the south (New Orleans) to the north (Chicago) to the north (Toronto) back to the south (Memphis), Walton said. It makes zero sense.TIP-INSHawks: Bazemore spent 23 games with the Lakers late in the 2013-14 season after a trade with Golden State. He left as a free agent for Atlanta. ... Atlanta made its third stop on a five-game road trip.Lakers: The club celebrated the 100th birthday of late broadcaster Chick Hearn with tributes throughout the game. ... Los Angeles played its 10th home game in the first 33 days of the season. The Lakers only have three home games in the next 27 days before a Christmas meeting with the Clippers. ... Thomas Robinson had a season-high nine points in his first start for the Lakers.UP NEXTHawks: At Golden State on Monday.Lakers: At New Orleans on Tuesday. Cheap Jaguars Jerseys . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. Wholesale Jaguars Jerseys . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. http://www.cheapjaguarsjerseysauthentic.com/ . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Cheap Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Cheap Jaguars Jerseys Authentic . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Paul Gallen is a certain starter for Cronullas clash with Sydney Roosters this weekend as the Sharks seek a way out of their late NRL season woes.Sosaia Feki could also make his return from injury.The Sharks have crashed to three successive losses, putting their chances of a top-two finish in doubt despite a club record 15 straight wins earlier this season.Cronulla sit in second place, two points ahead of third-placed Canberra, and need to win both of their final games against the Roosters and Melbourne to confirm a home match in week one of the finals.Skipper Gallen sat out the Sharks 12-6 loss to South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Monday night due to a calf injury, which had also forced him to miss the loss to St George Illawarra the round before.Hooker Michael Ennis admitted the Sharks missed Gallen in the loss to Souths.That is two big bodies we had out with him and Sam Tagataese (both not playing), he told AAP.We coould have used them against that big Souths pack.ddddddddddddI believe he will be back. I hope so.Feki missed the round 24 match with the Rabbitohs due to a groin injury picked up the week before in the loss to St George Illawarra.Prop Tagataese might not play against until the finals due to a shoulder injury.Cronulla will also be boosted by the Roosters poor recent record at Shark Park. The Tricolours have won one of their past six matches in the Shire.Sharks coach Shane Flanagan was attempting to stay positive.Its not going to be easy. We know that, he said.Were trying really hard, were trying our butts off and things just arent working at the moment.Its not hard for me to be positive about it. Thats my job to make sure we work hard and were in good shape when we get to the semi-finals. ' ' '
