The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their first loss after the All-Star break, falling to the Charlotte Hornets 100-97. The team’s star players, LeBron James and Luka Dončić, struggled to find their rhythm in the highly anticipated matchup.
Despite leading by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, the Lakers went without a field goal for six minutes, allowing the Hornets to take over. A LeBron James-led comeback eventually erased a nine-point lead, but the Hornets held on for the win.
Dončić finished with 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting, including only one three-pointer. He also had 11 rebounds and eight assists, but struggled with efficiency and was in foul trouble for much of the game. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets’ comeback, while LeBron James had a strong performance with 26 points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists.
The Lakers’ rotation system, which featured a 10-man unit, seemed to be an experiment that didn’t quite work out. Head coach JJ Redick hinted at finding their ideal rotation as they navigate the second half of the season.
The bigger question remains: when will Luka Dončić get his game going? The Lakers have plenty of time to adjust and find consistency before the playoffs, with their next game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/lakers-blow-double-digit-lead-in-return-from-all-star-break-as-luka-doncic-struggles-052732716.html