Days after stealing a close victory against the Orlando Magic at home, the Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t cross the line during the Saturday night encounter. 4x NBA Champion LeBron James, who produced clutch plays in the last two games, couldn’t avoid the humiliation. The Magic registered their 4th win of the season with a huge margin of 19 points.

During the last outing at the Crypto.com Arena, the key takeaways were the Lakers’ explosion in the fourth quarter and D’Angelo Russell’s contribution at the end. However, on this occasion, the LA side failed to penetrate through the massive 25-point lead set by the Magic. Let’s find out the major missing blocks that caused a third loss of the season for LeBron James and his men.

1. LeBron James with a heavy burden on his shoulders

The 38-year-old superstar, who stepped into the 21st season of his career, almost plays the anchor of the team. LeBron James was seen pushing through the hard minutes of the game. Notably, he was a +12 during his game time on the court. However, on the other side, the team failed to keep the numbers up during his absence.

Trending

Replaced by Shaquille O’Neal and $14 Million Worth TNT Deal, Here Are the Former “Inside the NBA” Analysts

May 20, 2024 12:35 PM EDT

30 Days Before Second Marriage, Shaquille O’Neal’s Heartfelt Confession Won the Respect of Ex-Wife Shaunie Henderson

May 18, 2024 01:00 PM EDT

Shaquille O’Neal Reveals Retirement Plans as Inside the NBA Crew Prepare for Uncertain Future With TNT

May 20, 2024 01:00 PM EDT

“Gonna Be On LinkedIn”: Charles Barkley Begins Job Hunt, Shaq Goes AWOL as NBC Takes ‘Inside The NBA’, TNT to Deep Waters

May 20, 2024 12:20 PM EDT

“Jordan Slipping Him Cash”: Fans Join In as Magic Johnson Slams Stephen A. Smith for Leaving Isiah Thomas Out of His List

May 18, 2024 03:30 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

The team lost 31 points when King James was on the bench for 13 minutes. The major takeaway is that the team depended on the superstar more than they should’ve. James ended the game with 24 points, second most in the team, with 9 rebounds and 5 assists in his 35-minute game time.

2. The second unit failed to contribute

The Lakers team during Saturday night lacked depth and proved costly for the side. In comparison with the Golden State Warriors‘ 2nd unit, which is led by Chris Paul and supported by Jonathan Kuminga and Gary Payton II, the Lakers don’t have dependable names in the lineup.

Gabe Vincent played a crucial role in the previous outing, but his absence in the latest outing further affected the side. The players off the bench only managed to drop 16 points.

3. Turnover concern

The team suffered a lot with the number of turnovers caused during the game. With a total of 17 TOs while the Magic only caused 15 TOs. Apart from that, D’Angelo Russell didn’t explode like he did in the previous encounter. Last time around, he dropped 12 points in the last quarter by with 100% 3pt FG and FTs. Whereas in this game, he had a poor shooting record of 4-17.

Read More – “She’s Beautiful!!!”: LeBron James Says “Welcome to the Family” After Latest Entry to His Business That Competes With Michael Jordan

Moreover, it’s important to credit wherever it’s due. The Magic put up an exciting performance on the home court to take their fourth win of the season. 

Magic dismantle James & Co.

The Magic started the game with a quick 14-point lead and kept the pressure on the Lakers’ offense. Importantly, the lead expanded to 25 points, choking the LA side. Nevertheless, the fightback brought down the lead by 10 points, but until then it was too late for the Lakers to turn it around.

Watch This Story – Interesting Fan Theory Showcases Weird Sporting Connection Between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers

What do you make of the Lakers’ 2nd unit? Is it good enough to be the backup for a championship contending side? Let us know in the comments.