LeBron James’ face had frustration and sadness written all over it when he sat on the floor after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 134-130 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
The veteran was missing his right shoe and sat with his mouthpiece dangling out. Austin Reaves was seen offering his hand to help the star up, but there was no doubt that James was crushed despite putting up 34 points.
To quickly narrate the sequence of events, the Lakers had a chance to lead when Patrick Beverley stole the ball. However, they turned it over with 32 seconds on the clock. Terry Rozier missed a jumper, and Gordon Hayward beat LA to the rebound and got the tie-breaking layup on a goaltending call.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 24, 2022
After he drew the call, James fed the ball to Dennis Schroder with 6.1 seconds on the clock, only for the guard to miss an open corner three. In the process, the veteran lost his shoe but could only watch as Schroder’s shot clattered.
The loss makes it their third in a row. The side has looked forlorn in Anthony Davis’ absence, and after a promising climb following their 0-5 start, they’re now back to losing ways again.
Darvin Ham Urges The Lakers To Set The Tone After Stinging Loss To The Hornets
Speaking to the media in the aftermath of the loss to Charlotte, head coach Darvin Ham called for more accountability from his team.
The Lakers were favorites heading into the clash, especially against a side that had an 8-24 run and had lost nine of their last ten games. According to The Orange County Register:
“We have to get out in front of things. We have to be the ones to set the tone, not match someone else’s energy. We have to understand that possession by possession by possession, the intensity level has to raise, the competitiveness has to raise, togetherness has to raise. Throughout a 48-minute game, you have to get stronger as the game gets longer.”
The Purple and Gold will be without the services of Davis, who has been ruled out indefinitely due to a stress fracture. With Thomas Bryant exiting the game with three minutes left on the clock, it’s a double whammy for LA as they gear up to play the Dallas Mavericks next on Christmas Day.
The loss now puts them at 13-19, and the Lakers are in danger of losing a playoff berth for the second season in a row. Only time will tell if they can dust themselves up and make a positive surge.
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