The LA Lakers suffered any other setback of their NBA playoff push, falling 118-106 to the Orlando Magic, who notched their first home victory because that February.
Despite 32 points from Luka Doncic and 24 from LeBron James, the Lakers dropped their third direct match on Monday and, at 43-28, are now tied with the Memphis Grizzlies in the battle for 4th place in the Western Conference. Franz Wagner scored 32 points, and Paolo Banchero added 30 for the Magic, who outscored the Lakers 34-18 in the 3rd area to capture and manage the competition.
LA Lakers defeat
The defeat follows the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Chicago Bulls in James’s first sport back after missing seven games with groin damage. The Lakers were hoping James, Doncic, and a newly wholesome Rui Hachimura could drive a strong stretch run in the West. The Oklahoma City Thunder is assured of the top seed, but the Denver Nuggets, Lakers and Grizzlies are all in and a half video games of the second one-located Houston Rockets.
Lakers state their player lack in intensity
LA Lakers instruct JJ Redick stated his players are lacking the defensive intensity they displayed in an 8-game successful streak that had in short pushed them to 2d in the standings.
“We can get back there,” Redick said, including that the injury-enforced lineup modifications may also have taken a toll. “We look tired,” he stated. “I don’t know what contributes to that … we weren’t capable of sustain our stage of intensity that we started the sport out with.”
The Lakers did cut a 17-point 4th quarter deficit to seven with 5:39 closing, however the Magic – 8th in the Eastern Conference – hastily pulled away again. Redick said the Lakers could also use some exercise time to get lately again players reintegrated.
Read Also: CM Rekha Gupta presents Delhi Budget 2025-26 today