LOS ANGELES — The Lakers remain stagnant after the All-Star break—losing to a bottom-two team in the West in Utah before the break and now to a bottom-two team in the East, dropping to the Charlotte Hornets 100-97 on Wednesday night.
The Lakers' last two losses have come in the hands of teams (UTA, CHA) with a combined 27-80 record, dropping them to 32-21 for fifth in the West.
The sloppiness was shared on both sides, most of which came in the second half, with the Lakers (18) and Hornets (17) combining for 35 turnovers.
Luka Dončić started the first quarter with five turnovers in his third game in Los Angeles. His struggles shaking off rust continued, scoring 14 points (11 rebounds, eight assists) in 33 minutes on five-of-18 shooting (one-of-nine from deep).
"Obviously, it's gonna take a little time," Dončić said. “A lot of rustiness from my part.”
LeBron James acknowledged that Dončić, in only his third game since Christmas Day, is still learning the system.
"He doesn’t know all the plays, defensive coverages, or signals we’ve built since September," James said, who scored 26 points in 38 minutes. "We’re trying to fast-track it on the fly while he gets back into form after his injury. It’s something we’re all working through together."
Despite struggles shooting from the floor, going 18-of-46 shooting in the first half, the Lakers headed into halftime with a sizable 11-point lead (48-37). They would maintain a lead most of the third quarter until a quick whistle from the official changed the momentum.
With just under four minutes left in the quarter, Austin Reaves picked up a technical after arguing and yelling toward the official for a foul call on a layup attempt. Seconds later, Reaves picked up his second technical foul while walking away with still a fiery emotion, resulting in his first career NBA ejection.
“I vocally said what I needed to say,” Reaves said, who finished with eight points in 27 minutes. “The second [tech] I was surprised... felt like it was quick.”
With the score at 65-57 with three minutes to go in the fourth, the Hornets would then go on a 12-1 run to retake the lead they once had to start the game. Charlotte would go on to outscore L.A. 63-49 in the second half, behind 56 points combined from Miles Bridges (29 points) and LaMelo Ball (27 points).
James lifted the Lakers in the fourth quarter with multiple sequences that roared the Crypto.com crowd, even getting a tomahawk dunk on almost Laker Mark Williams. He scored 16 of his 26 points (11 assists, seven rebounds) in the fourth quarter.
LeBron DUNK tomahawk edition and ironically on Mark Williams.pic.twitter.com/BhyOdqPR9n
— Carlos Yakimowich (@CarlosYakNBA) February 20, 2025
Late in the fourth, two missed free throws from Rui Hachimura that would have tied the game with 37 seconds left allowed the Hornets another opportunity to extend their lead. Ball would give Charlotte a four-point lead on a tough finger roll layup after blowing by Jarred Vanderbilt with 14 seconds left.
James kept the Lakers alive with a three on the next possession and fouling Ball right, who hit both free throws, with their final chance in a one-score game down 100-97.
Dončić was the inbounder on the final play and found James, who missed two opportunities from deep to tie it, giving the Lakers their seventh loss in 27 games this season at home.
The Lakers finished the game shooting 29.4% from 3-point range on a season-high 51 attempts from deep.
Dončić and head coach JJ Redick acknowledged that James was the hot hand and why the final shot(s) were in his hands.
Next Game
The Lakers will play the Trail Blazers in Portland for their second game of back-to-back matchups on Thursday. Portland is coming into the game on a three-game skid after having one of the hottest win streaks in the NBA, winning six straight.