Returning from the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Lakers were expected to cruise past the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Despite LeBron James putting up 26 points and 11 assists, the Lakers stumbled to a narrow 100-97 loss against a rebuilding Charlotte squad.
James, who had opted out of the All-Star Game to rest his sore ankle, logged 38 minutes in the contest. At 40 years old, he delivered a strong performance, but the outcome was far from what he and the team anticipated.
Adding to the frustration, Luka Doncic—his highly anticipated new running mate—was unable to make a significant impact on the game. The Lakers will undoubtedly view this as a missed opportunity, particularly given their high expectations coming off the break.
LeBron immediately complains of Luka’s lack of familiarity with Lakers’ system
Since acquiring Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade earlier this month, the Lakers have struggled, losing two of their three games.
Wednesday’s loss to the Hornets was particularly rough for Doncic, marking his toughest performance since joining Los Angeles. He struggled to find his shot, going 5-of-18 from the field and just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Despite recording 14 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, he also picked up five fouls in 33 minutes, limiting his impact.
LeBron James, known for his relentless competitiveness, showed some frustration after the game, acknowledging that Doncic is still learning the system.
“He still doesn’t know all the plays, all the defensive coverages, and all the signals we’ve built since September,” James said. “Obviously, we’re trying to fast-track it on the fly.”
The loss hurt the Lakers’ push to move up in the standings as they try to catch the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. It also fueled concerns about whether James and Doncic can successfully coexist, given their similar ball-dominant playstyles.
With the season winding down, head coach J.J. Redick must quickly find a way to make the pairing work if the Lakers hope to make a deep playoff run.
