LeBron James was visibly upset after the Los Angeles Lakers upset 134-130 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
The Lakers fell short despite James’ spirited 34-point performance coupled with two rebounds and 8 assists. Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook chipped in with 20 and 17 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to dodge the Hornets’ sting.
Charlotte had notable contributions from PJ Washington (24 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists). LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier pitched in 23 points each. The loss comes as an upset to a Lakers outfit that went into the contest as firm favorites against a team that had a dismal 8-24 record.
LeBron James Not Disappointed With His Team After The Upset Defeat
Despite the loss, James opined that he wasn’t upset with the team. The Lakers are 0-3 with Anthony Davis sidelined due to a stress fracture, and much of the scoring onus is now on the veteran.
Speaking to the media in the aftermath of the loss, James said that there were ample chances that the side had to close it out. According to ESPN:
“Obviously, had our chances tonight. I won’t say (it’s) disappointing, because I’m not disappointed in our effort. I’m not disappointed in the guys. You just want to win the game that’s right there in front of you.”
Adding to this was Reaves, who felt that the absence of Davis was indeed a challenge for the side. The latter is a vital cog in the setup and had single-handedly pulled the Lakers to some semblance of normalcy after their 0-5 start to the season.
“It’s hard when you lose someone like AD,” Reaves said. “He’s the centerpiece of what we do defensively. Since he went out, the defensive rating hasn’t been great. It’s just too many points. You’re not going to win many games like that.”
The Lakers are now 13-19 and placed 13th in the West. They take on the Dallas Mavericks next on Christmas Day.
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