The Lakers have struggled to compete with any team on the court since LeBron James was sidelined with a groin injury. To make matters worse, Luka Doncic also had to sit out during their recent game against the Nuggets.
As a result, the Lakers faced their fourth straight loss, falling short by just five points with a final score of 131-126 on Thursday night. This tough loss dropped their record to 40-25.
Just four games ago, they were proudly holding the second seed on the points table. Unfortunately, they have now slipped down to fifth position.
The absence of superstars Luka Dončić and LeBron James was a significant factor in the defeat. LeBron James has been out since the game with the Boston Celtics. Meanwhile, Luka Dončić was ruled out due to left calf injury management and a sprained right ankle.
So, in this game, rookie star Dalton Knecht had to step out as one of the main scorers. Besides him, Austin Reaves delivered an exceptional performance, scoring 37 points and contributing 13 assists.
Nuggets fully healthy losing at home to the Lakers with no Bron, no Luka, no Rui, no DFS, no Hayes, no Gabe and no Jemison
— 𝐙𝐞𝐞𝐛𝐨💫 (@HoodiZeebo) March 15, 2025
YALL SOME GARBAGE @nuggets pic.twitter.com/CsTASm7uKc
But without Luka and LeBron, the Lakers couldn’t fill the gap. Even after Luka’s 45-point in the last game, the team still couldn’t handle the defeat without Bron. With both of them missing in the recent game, Reaves and Knecht’s combined 69 points weren’t enough to save the day.
This loss has left the team in a tough spot in the Western Conference. With a 40-25 record, they’re still in the playoff race, but they need to start winning again. Their next game against the Phoenix Suns is crucial to break the losing streak and get back on track.
JJ Redick admits Lakers have been unlucky with injuries
After seeing the close 5-point loss to the Nuggets, it’s clear that if Luka Dončić had played on Thursday night, the Lakers might have had a better chance of winning. But once again, luck wasn’t on their side, as Luka sat out due to injury concerns.
There’s no doubt the players are giving their best, which even JJ Redick agrees with, but injuries are making the results feel unfair. Redick said, “We were playing good basketball, we had won seven or eight games in a row, or whatever it was. And we’ve been unlucky with injuries and stuff. Even some who play are still a bit injured.”
