ATLANTA — The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a brutal four-game journey Friday after being edged by the surging Atlanta Hawks 134-132 in time beyond regulation.
Although LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been each concerned in a number of late-game miscues that helped the Hawks to the victory, James pointed to a big-picture concern that has led to Los Angeles shedding seven of its previous 9 video games, moderately than to particular errors that occurred down the stretch in Atlanta.
After the Lakers’ bench was outscored 65-17 towards the Hawks, James stated the staff’s lack of depth is being examined. He rattled off the names of Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wooden and Jaxson Hayes — all of whom have been inactive Friday night time — as gamers within the “high 11” of the Lakers’ would-be rotation in the event that they have been wholesome.
“Mismatching with lineups, we’re attempting to determine methods, clearly,” James stated. “So it’s extremely difficult. We do not have a lot room for error. … It is massive, massive, massive, massive items.”
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The largest absence has been Reaves, who didn’t play through the 1-3 journey due to a left pelvic bruise and returned to Los Angeles earlier than Friday’s recreation to obtain therapy.
“He is like a connector for our offense, however he is additionally a scorer and a playmaker,” Lakers coach JJ Redick, talking earlier than Friday’s recreation, stated of Reaves, who has averaged 16.7 factors and 4.8 assists per recreation this season. “He does each. And likewise, he is extremely aggressive and he brings that juice each night time.”
Reaves is taken into account day-to-day heading into Sunday’s residence recreation towards the Portland Path Blazers.
Hayes has sat out 12 of Los Angeles’ previous 13 video games due to a proper ankle harm and is anticipated to sit down out a minimum of one other week. Wooden (left knee surgical procedure) and Vanderbilt (proper foot surgical procedure and left knee fluid) have not performed all season. Wooden’s timeline stays unclear, and Vanderbilt is aiming to play in early January, in accordance with the Lakers.
Their absences haven’t solely induced the Lakers to rank within the backside 5 in bench factors this season but in addition led to Redick shuffling the lineup in quest of one thing that sticks — as an illustration, beginning Gabe Vincent rather than D’Angelo Russell on Friday.
James’ feedback got here after he and Davis turned in a few of their greatest performances of the season, although Davis had a few key miscues in time beyond regulation. He had a turnover on a go to James with 28 seconds left within the additional session that James saved from turning right into a bucket by getting a chase-down block on Dyson Daniels after which was concerned in a poorly executed inbounds play when Davis was tied up by three Hawks defenders with 19.6 seconds left, resulting in a bounce ball that James could not corral.
James had 39 factors, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and a pair of steals for his seventh triple-double this season. He was 14-of-25 from the sphere, together with 6-of-11 from 3 after lately struggling together with his shot.
Davis had 38 factors on 15-for-27 taking pictures, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and a pair of blocks, bouncing again from a season-low eight factors on 3-for-14 taking pictures in Wednesday’s loss to the Miami Warmth.
For his half, Davis stated the Lakers have to easily work with what they’ve for now.
“There is not any cavalry,” Davis stated. “Nobody feels sorry for us. We will not really feel sorry for ourselves. Simply bought to proceed to place our head down and grind and work. Attempt to get again within the win column on Sunday towards Portland. … No recreation’s going to be straightforward for us, so we bought to go take the win.”
Added James: “I do not know so far as what is going to get us over the hump. We simply bought to only not drown. Do not drown and we’ll be all proper.”
