The eight-game homestand the Lakers played over three weeks because of the weeklong All-Star break was an opportunity for them to develop a connectivity that would push L.A. in the right direction.
Instead, the Lakers floundered in those games at Crypto.com Arena, playing .500 basketball (4-4), dropping a 110-109 game to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night when Luka Doncic passed up a shot and made a hurried pass to LeBron James, who missed a buzzer-beater.
The Lakers (34-23) have not been a great team at home all season, their record now standing at 16-12 in Los Angeles. And because they lost for the second straight game at home, they are now in sixth place in the competitive Western Conference.
James finished with 21 points on eight-for-13 shooting. He also had six rebounds and four assists. After the game, he was asked why the Lakers haven’t been so good at home this season.
“I don’t know,” James said. “Just haven’t been a good home team.”
The Lakers opened the homestand with wins over Philadelphia and Golden State, lost back-to-back games to Oklahoma City and San Antonio, beat Dallas and the Clippers and then finished it off with losses to Boston and Orlando.
Coach JJ Redick was asked for his assessment on why his team hasn’t been better at home.
“We’re a work in progress,” Redick said.
The game went back-and-forth most of the fourth quarter, each play more important than the previous one, each moment more intense, each possession more meaningful for both teams.
When Rui Hachimura drilled a three-pointer from the corner off a pass from Doncic with 2:14 left, the Lakers looked to be in pretty good shape.
But Paolo Banchero (36 points) scored and was fouled by Deandre Ayton. Banchero missed the free throw, leaving the Lakers ahead 106-105 with 1:18 left.
James went to work in the post over the smaller Anthony Black, drawing a foul. But James made just one of two free throws for a 107-105 Lakers lead
Desmond Bane (22 points) answered with a three-pointer for a 108-107 lead that forced the Lakers to call a timeout with 34.6 seconds left.
James then scored on a dunk for a 109-108 Lakers lead.
Banchero missed a jumper, but Wendell Carter Jr. (20 points) grabbed an offensive rebound and scored for a 110-109 Magic lead with 6.7 seconds left.
Then came the moment of truth for the Lakers after a timeout.
Doncic got free just past the three-point line, but the Magic sent two defenders at him, Black and Banchero.
Doncic was not having one of his better shooting nights, having missed 16 of his 24 shots, eight of his 10 three-pointers and even five of his nine free throws en route to 22 points.
Luka Doncic and Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley talk during the first half.
(Caroline Brehman / Associated Press)
So instead of taking the shot, Doncic passed the ball to James.
“I mean, I just saw him open and I didn’t want to lose the ball,” Doncic said. “We didn’t have timeouts. … [But] I shouldn’t have picked up the ball. I should have attacked. … That’s on me.”
Perhaps, Doncic was asked, he didn’t take the clutch shot because he was not on top of his game at that moment.
“Maybe a little bit,” Doncic said. “I think I thought it was more time. It was, what, 6.7 seconds? It was enough time to get a better look, try to drive the ball, so that’s why I picked [up my dribble].”
When James got the ball, Jonathan Issac recovered and played good defense, forcing James into taking an off-balanced shot.
“We executed. Like I said, I’m not sure,” James said. “ Obviously, you have to ask Luka what he saw on that. But I thought he had a good look and it looked like he kinda just lost his balance, you know. Didn’t have a rhythm with the ball, whatever the case may be. And it kinda allowed them to get back in front of him. And I was kind of off-balance when he gave it to me. I thought he had a great look. That’s my POV (point of view).”
The Lakers got a very good game out of center Deande Ayton, who had a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Ayton was aggressive in going eight-for-11 from the field and five-for-five from the free-throw line.
“Yeah, yeah, it’s a bit upsetting,” Ayton said about losing games at home. “You know, I think we got, like, 24 games left, you know. We still got a lot of chances to just get in a good position as we can. Did feel weird in the homestand, you know, just being 4-4. It was tough losses and played against some really good teams. But, you know, we play every other day. So, just get back in the lab and just get ready for the next game.”
The Lakers have 25 regular-season games remaining, 13 at home.
This story originally appeared on LA Times
