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The Los Angeles Lakers started a four-game road trip on Monday against the Orlando Magic badly needing a win to stop their recent skid. They had lost six of their last nine games, and their defense, which had been outstanding ever since late January, has shown signs of slippage.
They gave up 146 points in a 31-point loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, and one may have thought they would re-establish their defensive prowess against an Orlando team that came into Monday last in the NBA in points per game.
Things looked fairly promising when Los Angeles got out to a 60-51 lead with 1:15 left in the second quarter. But the Magic scored seven straight points to end the half, and that was an ominous portend of what would transpire in the third quarter. In that third period, the Magic outscored L.A. 34-18, and L.A. would never recover, as it fell 118-106 for its third straight loss.
Statistically, the Lakers got beat in several statistical categories. They gave up 49.4% overall shooting and 37.5% from 3-point range to Orlando while making just 31.3% of their own 3-point attempts. They were outrebounded by four and outscored in fast-break points 20-12, and down the stretch, they couldn't stop Orlando from getting good looks in the paint or scoring on those good looks.
Bench points were also a problem for Los Angeles. It only got 14 points from its reserves, while the Magic's bench put up 30 points, and they were led by Anthony Black, a nondescript guard who scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting while dishing off six assists.
Finney-Smith wasn't able to help the Lakers slow down Orlando's starting forwards. All-Star Paolo Banchero scored 30 points, while Franz Wagner had 32 points. But the Lakers forward did contribute offensively by registering 14 points on 5-of-7 overall shooting and 4-of-6 from 3-point range. He also added seven rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes.
Hayes scored four points and had four rebounds and one block in 18 minutes, but he simply didn't provide enough of a presence inside, especially defensively and on the boards.
While Reaves scored a decent 18 points, he shot just 7-of-16 from the field and missed all but one of his six 3-point attempts. His struggles from the perimeter seemed symptomatic of the Lakers' overall inability to generate good looks and shift the defense enough to get their players open.
He also had six rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes.
Doncic was able to hit four of his 10 attempts from downtown, but he had a lot of trouble hitting shots in the paint and from the mid-range area. He finished the game with 32 points and only had three turnovers, but he was 9-of-23 from the field. He was 3-of-9 in the second half and attempted only two shots in the fourth quarter.
He did help L.A.'s cause with seven assists, seven rebounds and one steal in 38 minutes.
In spurts, James looked like his usual self, but he likely isn't fully in game shape yet after missing about two weeks with a groin injury. He scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting and added six rebounds and seven assists, but he missed all three of his 3-point attempts, and overall, he wasn't as consistently aggressive as one may expect him to be.
The Lakers needed plenty more from Hachimura on this night. He only scored five points in 24 minutes off the bench, and he needs to be more aggressive and assertive offensively, even though he's not in prime rhythm after being out for nearly a month due to patellar tendinopathy.
Vincent missed all four of his 3-point attempts, and overall, he was 2-of-6 from the field. He finished with four points, two steals and one rebound in 20 minutes.
When Vanderbilt was on the court, he did a good job on the boards with four rebounds in 12 minutes. But his on-court time was limited due to foul trouble. He picked up three fouls late in the first quarter in a span of just 14 seconds, and as a result, he didn't play at all in the second quarter.
In 13 minutes, Goodwin made almost no impact. He didn't attempt a single shot and scored just one point, and his only other positive contribution was one offensive rebound.
Knecht played just five minutes and hit his lone shot attempt, which was a 3-pointer. Jemison played just one minute and made no statistical contribution.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers player grades: L.A. loses to Magic for third straight defeat
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They gave up 146 points in a 31-point loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, and one may have thought they would re-establish their defensive prowess against an Orlando team that came into Monday last in the NBA in points per game.
Things looked fairly promising when Los Angeles got out to a 60-51 lead with 1:15 left in the second quarter. But the Magic scored seven straight points to end the half, and that was an ominous portend of what would transpire in the third quarter. In that third period, the Magic outscored L.A. 34-18, and L.A. would never recover, as it fell 118-106 for its third straight loss.
Statistically, the Lakers got beat in several statistical categories. They gave up 49.4% overall shooting and 37.5% from 3-point range to Orlando while making just 31.3% of their own 3-point attempts. They were outrebounded by four and outscored in fast-break points 20-12, and down the stretch, they couldn't stop Orlando from getting good looks in the paint or scoring on those good looks.
Bench points were also a problem for Los Angeles. It only got 14 points from its reserves, while the Magic's bench put up 30 points, and they were led by Anthony Black, a nondescript guard who scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting while dishing off six assists.
Doran Finney-Smith: B/B-plus
Finney-Smith wasn't able to help the Lakers slow down Orlando's starting forwards. All-Star Paolo Banchero scored 30 points, while Franz Wagner had 32 points. But the Lakers forward did contribute offensively by registering 14 points on 5-of-7 overall shooting and 4-of-6 from 3-point range. He also added seven rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes.
Jaxson Hayes: C
Hayes scored four points and had four rebounds and one block in 18 minutes, but he simply didn't provide enough of a presence inside, especially defensively and on the boards.
Austin Reaves: B-minus
While Reaves scored a decent 18 points, he shot just 7-of-16 from the field and missed all but one of his six 3-point attempts. His struggles from the perimeter seemed symptomatic of the Lakers' overall inability to generate good looks and shift the defense enough to get their players open.
He also had six rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes.
Luka Doncic: B-plus/A-minus
Doncic was able to hit four of his 10 attempts from downtown, but he had a lot of trouble hitting shots in the paint and from the mid-range area. He finished the game with 32 points and only had three turnovers, but he was 9-of-23 from the field. He was 3-of-9 in the second half and attempted only two shots in the fourth quarter.
He did help L.A.'s cause with seven assists, seven rebounds and one steal in 38 minutes.
LeBron James: B
In spurts, James looked like his usual self, but he likely isn't fully in game shape yet after missing about two weeks with a groin injury. He scored 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting and added six rebounds and seven assists, but he missed all three of his 3-point attempts, and overall, he wasn't as consistently aggressive as one may expect him to be.
Rui Hachimura: C
The Lakers needed plenty more from Hachimura on this night. He only scored five points in 24 minutes off the bench, and he needs to be more aggressive and assertive offensively, even though he's not in prime rhythm after being out for nearly a month due to patellar tendinopathy.
Gabe Vincent: D-plus
Vincent missed all four of his 3-point attempts, and overall, he was 2-of-6 from the field. He finished with four points, two steals and one rebound in 20 minutes.
Jarred Vanderbilt: C-plus
When Vanderbilt was on the court, he did a good job on the boards with four rebounds in 12 minutes. But his on-court time was limited due to foul trouble. He picked up three fouls late in the first quarter in a span of just 14 seconds, and as a result, he didn't play at all in the second quarter.
Jordan Goodwin: D
In 13 minutes, Goodwin made almost no impact. He didn't attempt a single shot and scored just one point, and his only other positive contribution was one offensive rebound.
Dalton Knecht, Trey Jemison III: Incomplete
Knecht played just five minutes and hit his lone shot attempt, which was a 3-pointer. Jemison played just one minute and made no statistical contribution.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers player grades: L.A. loses to Magic for third straight defeat
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