In a back-and-forth high-scoring affair Thursday night, the Lakers led by 13 points in the second quarter before the Charlotte Hornets rallied to build a 15-point lead in the third quarter.
In the end, the Hornets kept the momentum they stole from the Lakers, rolling to a 135-117 win at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers’ defense couldn’t slow down LaMelo Ball in the second half and it was unable to stop the Hornets from scoring 20 three-pointers.
As a result, the Lakers (24-15) lost for the fourth time in five games.
“I mean, it doesn’t matter who it is. Doesn’t matter the team, doesn’t matter the player,” Marcus Smart said. “If they were shooting 20% [before], they’re shooting 50%. And it’s unfortunate, but that’s part of the game. It’s tough. We got to figure it out. We got to play with a little bit more urgency on that end, especially, and kind of impose our will.
“It’s not easy. Especially when you play for the Lakers, you always are the hunted— no matter what.”
The Hornets (15-26) shot 53% from the field 54% percent from three-point range in the second half. Ball had 27 of his 30 points in the second half. After the Lakers closed to within 10 points with 2 minutes and 30 seconds left in the fourth, Ball’s back-to-back three-pointers essentially closed out the game.
“He had some crazy shots, but that’s what he do,” said Luka Doncic, who scored 39 points. “He was shooting a lot of threes off the dribble … so he got really hot. So it’s kind of hard to stop.”
Charlotte forward Brandon Miller looks to pass in front of Lakers star LeBron James in the first quarter Thursday.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Even with all of the Lakers’ starters scoring in double figures, it wasn’t enough. LeBron James, who didn’t speak to reporters after the game, had 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Jake LaRavia had 18 points, Deandre Ayton scored 12 points and Smart had 10.
The start of the game was so different for the Lakers.
Doncic blew a kiss to the crowd and threw his hands in the air after drilling a first-quarter three. Doncic smiled at the Lakers’ bench after shooting another three-pointer a short time later.
During those moments, Doncic epitomized the kind of joy Lakers coach JJ Redick wants to see his team exhibit.
The rest of the Lakers followed Doncic’s lead as the team built a 48-55 lead in the second quarter.
Doncic led the Lakers in the first quarter, scoring 19 points on seven-for-12 shooting, which included a trio of threes. The Lakers had 14 three-pointers in the game, but it wasn’t enough to stop a more consistent Charlotte attack.
The Lakers were outscored 34-16 in the second quarter, 40-38 in the third and 31-24 in the fourth.
“We all knew that they got our full respect and attention pregame and I thought we fought,” Redick said. “Just another team that has a hot shooting night.”
Etc.
Redick said backup center Jaxson Hayes had an MRI scan that revealed hamstring tendinopathy in his left leg. Hayes, who is averaging 6.3 points per game, has missed two games because of the injury. “It’s hopefully a short-term thing and hopefully he’ll be back at some point this weekend,” Redick said. The Lakers play at Portland on Saturday before facing the Toronto Raptors at home on Sunday.
This story originally appeared on LA Times
