After a few days off, the Los Angeles Lakers were well-rested headed into Sunday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.
LeBron James was hot early. He started the game with eight points in the first three minutes, and the Lakers were off to a 12-0 lead.
3-3 FG, 8 points, under 3 minutes played.
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 27, 2022
Only @KingJames.
(?: @SpectrumSN) pic.twitter.com/kKHvCUZgsX
The good didn’t stop there, as the Lakers continued to remain hot behind both LeBron and Russell Westbrook. Both combined for 37 points in the first half as they headed into halftime up by 20 points.
Unfortunately, the fun had to end at some point. For Los Angeles, it was at the worst possible time. New Orleans came out of halftime with a vengeance, playing outstanding defense and scoring 41 points in just the third quarter.
Their comeback continued into the fourth, as the Pelicans held the Lakers to just 14 points in the final quarter. New Orleans got punched in the mouth early. But, they got back up and countered as they ended up with the 116-108 win.
Former Laker Brandon Ingram led the way with 26 points in 26 minutes. Trey Murphy III played a huge role off the bench for New Orleans, scoring 21 points on 7-12 shooting.
As for the Lakers, LeBron James played 42 minutes and had a stat line of 39 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Westbrook finished with 18 points, while Malik Monk led the bench with 23 of his own.
Just when you think things are going well for the Lakers, it all comes crashing down. Unfortunately, the loss officially places them in the 10th place spot in the Western Conference.
My Thoughts
Sigh.
The Lakers lost in a way that makes me want to cry at times. To have a lead as large as the Lakers did, only to blow it the way only they can? This season continues to devastate fans everywhere.
Give props to the Pelicans, who are a young and gritty squad that can hold their own against tough opponents.
This loss was disappointing, but the Lakers have other issues to deal with. LeBron James rolled his ankle in the first half, but he continued to play the rest of the game.
LeBron James went down after rolling his left ankle but he’s up and will try to continue. ? pic.twitter.com/80KfTrA1aE
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 27, 2022
No wonder he was taking many shots from the perimeter instead of driving to the basket.
During his postgame press conference, he went on to explain the sharp pain in his leg.
LeBron on the status of his sprained ankle: “it’s horrible.” pic.twitter.com/XgcSIywtcH
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 28, 2022
From the sound of it, expect James to miss time to recover.
But, that’s the thing. The Lakers cannot afford to lose James at a time like this. Only eight games remain in the regular season, and this team is hanging on by a thread to just make the play-in tournament.
If this team is forced to play games without their leader, expect Russell Westbrook to lead this team down the stretch. He has shown the capability to will his team into the playoffs (e.g. his time with the Wizards in 2020).
But, playing with LeBron would be a major loss for a team that is still without Anthony Davis. Don’t get me started on Kendrick Nunn.
A Message to Lakers Fans
I speak for Lakers fans everywhere when I say this has been the worst season in forever. From injuries to questionable coaching decisions, it feels as if we should just give up and wait for next year.
But, all hope is not lost. You’ve heard it before, but a healthy Lakers team has the potential to turn things around.
The keyword there? Healthy.
LeBron hopes he won’t miss time. But, if he’s going to lose the ability to drive to the basket, opponents will have an easier time guarding him. The “retirement home” Twitter accounts seem to be right after all. Age can catch up to athletes, no matter how great they are.
It’s going to be a tough eight-game stretch, starting with the Mavericks on Tuesday. This may get ugly.
Also, congratulations to Russell Westbrook for moving into 29th on the all-time scoring list.
For more on the Lakers, check out Belly Up Sports and follow Nathan on Twitter.
