Luka Doncic and Lakers struggle in loss to Stephen | College News

The Lakers couldn’t miss. And then they couldn’t make something.

Eleven instances in a row they acquired a mismatch they preferred and discovered themselves in spots on the courtroom they wished, solely to see their pictures fail.

For the primary 4 minutes, the Lakers’ offense was excellent. For the following eight, it was problematic.

For the primary time in a long time for the reason that Lakers traded for Luka Doncic, his magic disappeared, the staff’s offensive engine pissed off by a mixture of Golden State’s protection, wasted offensive alternatives and whistles that didn’t come.

The tone had been set, the Lakers enjoying a large sport in opposition to Golden State with out the required rhythm, with out the required toughness, with out the required smarts.

The first-quarter famine meant the Lakers had to play from behind, solely briefly getting within hanging distance of the lead earlier than shedding 123-116 on Thursday evening at Crypto.com Arena.

Things acquired higher in the second half, however the gap was too large and the momentum too fleeting.

It wasn’t for lack of combat — the Lakers have had a lot all season. They acquired within 5 factors in the ultimate 5 minutes and within 5 in the ultimate 60 seconds, however by no means within a single possession.

A wild scramble after a Golden State turnover might’ve cut it to one possession, however the Lakers turned over the ball.

It was the story all evening. Whenever the Lakers briefly flurried, catastrophe was there to strike.

Brandin Podziemski, who scored 19 factors in the primary half, stole the briefest sliver of momentum by making a working half-court shot to finish the second quarter.

With the Lakers (46-30) placing some constructive possessions collectively on the finish of the third, Austin Reaves acquired caught reaching in on Stephen Curry and despatched him to the road for 3 free throws.

“I thought we still did a good job trying to fight out of those situations,” Reaves mentioned. “It’s just, we didn’t have enough time to get it all back.”

In between all of it, the Lakers spent a lot of power directed on the officers, some with good trigger. The staff used and received a pair of challenges however had none left by the third quarter, leaving it helpless when a replay confirmed Curry, not the Lakers, kicked the ball out of bounds. Instead of a turnover, Curry scored on a layup on the following possession.

The Lakers typically overreacted to missed calls, missed pictures and missed possibilities.

The sport additionally provided an fascinating have a look at the place the groups stand with simply six video games left in the common season, the Lakers unable to remedy Golden State (45-31) and its protection in the primary assembly since each rosters have been overhauled.

Curry completed with 37 factors on 10-for-21 taking pictures and Podziemski had 28 factors and eight rebounds. Jimmy Butler had 11 factors.

In the tightly contested West playoff image, the groups might finish up assembly in the primary spherical. If the season ended Thursday, the Lakers and the Warriors can be the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds, respectively.

“That’s part of the process of becoming a really good team. You gotta go through those up-and-down battles of going through situations where you have to figure it out,” Reaves mentioned. “If everything is always smooth sailing, if at any point in the future it doesn’t get there, if it’s a little rocky, then you don’t know what to turn to. Once you go through things like this, you have to adapt and adjust. And that’s what we’ll do.”

LeBron James scored 33 factors and Reaves had 31, however Doncic made simply six of 17 from the sector for 19 factors. It was Doncic’s worst-scoring sport since Feb. 25 and his first with out a three-pointer for the reason that 2022-23 season.

“That performance from me is unacceptable,” Doncic mentioned.

Doncic banged his left elbow late in the Lakers’ win Monday in opposition to Houston however mentioned it wasn’t a issue in his play.

“It’s fine. That’s my left so it’s fine,” Doncic mentioned. “I shoot them with the right.”

The Lakers host New Orleans on Friday evening earlier than enjoying their subsequent three video games on the street, together with two in opposition to the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder.