The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a tough 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night, marking their first game after the All-Star break. Despite strong performances from LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, a 20-1 run by the Hornets in the second half proved too much for L.A., and they were never able to regain control.
LeBron James Leads but Lakers Struggle
LeBron James delivered a solid performance with 26 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Luka Dončić, however, struggled offensively with just 14 points but contributed with eight assists and 11 rebounds. Rui Hachimura also made an impact with 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
Dorian Finney-Smith had a solid shooting night, hitting four of six three-pointers to score 12 points. Gabe Vincent added six points, and Austin Reaves, who was ejected with 3:17 left in the third, finished with eight points, two rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
Early Lead Slips Away
Dallas started the game strong, with Josh Green grabbing a rebound and taking a shot for the first points. Then came two highlight-reel fastbreak dunks: first, LeBron passed to Luka for a dunk, and Luka returned the favor moments later with an assist to LeBron. LeBron also hit two consecutive threes, forcing Charlotte to call a timeout.
After the break, the Lakers continued to extend their lead while the Hornets struggled with their shooting. Despite several turnovers and defensive lapses, L.A.’s 28.6% shooting from beyond the arc wasn’t punished much, as Charlotte shot only 28.6% from the field.
Hornets Surge and Secure the Win
Things took a turn in the second half. The Hornets hit a 20-1 run, which shifted the momentum and allowed them to take control of the game. The Lakers failed to recover fully and were unable to stop Charlotte’s charge. The Hornets’ defense tightened up, and L.A.’s earlier shooting struggles caught up with them, eventually leading to the 100-97 defeat.
The loss drops the Lakers in their early post-All-Star game, and they’ll look to bounce back in their next outing.
