The Miami Heat defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 110-96 on Wednesday night, and suddenly, LeBron James and company have a 3-9 record since winning the NBA In-Season Tournament. They have also fallen below .500 for the first time since the beginning of November.
“We can’t find any consistency until we get healthy, it’s as simple as that.” coach Darvin Ham told reporters after the game.
While injuries may have played a part in the team’s recent relapse, the Lakers certainly look like a totally different team since winning the IST in Las Vegas last month.
Despite the Heat also being without their best player, Jimmy Butler (foot), Miami’s supporting cast stepped up, with eight players scoring in double figures. Leading the way was Tyler Herro, scoring 21 points, while shooting 4-of-8 from three-point range, which actually matched the entire Lakers, who shot 4-of-30 from outside the arc. All in all, Miami’s zone defense wreaked havoc on the Lakers’ offense all night, forcing 21 turnovers, including 10 in the first quarter — which tied the Lakers’ franchise record for most turnovers in a quarter.
As point guard D’Angelo Russell is still recovering from injury, LeBron played more of a playmaking role, dishing out nine assists, while only scoring 12 points. For the most part, it was an all-around frustrating game for James, as he missed all six of his three-point attempts. He definitely didn’t get much help from his teammates, for it seemed no one could buy a bucket, with LA collectively shooting 13.3% from deep as a team.
On the bright side, the Lakers won the battle in the paint, as they outscored and outrebounded the Heat down low, and this was mainly credited to Anthony Davis, who had 29 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, five blocks, and two steals. To note, Austin Reaves also contributed 24 points, but starters Cam Reddish and Taurean Prince were both held scoreless.
After losing a third game in a row, LeBron left Crypto.com Arena without speaking to reporters, which is to say, actions speak louder than words.
The Lakers, currently holding the 10th seed in the Western Conference, will have a chance to turn things around when Ja Morant and the Grizzlies (11-23) come to town on Friday. To point out, this matchup will be the first of a four-game homestead, as the Lakers will host the Clippers (21-12), Raptors (14-20), and Suns (18-16).
