The Los Angeles Lakers’ new-look team got off to a promising start just days ago, but their performance in Wednesday’s rematch against the Utah Jazz was underwhelming. The Lakers lost 131-119, with Luka Dončić and LeBron James struggling to lead them to victory.
Dončić, who returned from a month-long absence, had a decent debut with 16 points, four assists, and four rebounds, but also turned the ball over five times. James added 18 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ defensive issues.
The loss was made worse by the early exit of big man Jaxson Hayes due to a facial contusion, which limited the team’s size advantage. Alex Len, the newly-signed center, struggled with just four points and seven rebounds in his debut.
Despite the loss, Lakers fans are eager for more from their stars, as the team remains in fifth place in the Western Conference at 32-20. A second consecutive defeat is a setback, but it’s not a guarantee of their postseason fate. The Lakers still appear on track to make a deep playoff run, and fans will need to see sustained improvement from Dončić and James to declare them true championship contenders.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25153641-lakers-criticized-nba-fans-lebron-james-luka-not-enough-loss-jazz