Lakers lose their 2nd game in a row with a late game loss to the Miami Heat.
The Lakers faced the Miami Heat for a finals rematch on Saturday night for the first time since game 6 in the bubble. The Lakers had plenty of opportunities to win tonight, but the shots just weren’t falling shooting a season-low 39% from the field losing 96–94 to the Miami Heat. With tonight’s defeat to the Miami Heat, the Lakers drop their 2nd straight game in a row and move to a record of 22–9 on the season.
The Heat and the Lakers both struggled shooting from the three tonight finishing under 30%. Both teams combined for 73 attempts from the perimeter, with the Lakers going 13–45 and the Miami Heat going 8–28. The Miami Heat were able to get the best of the Lakers after surviving a late-game steal from LeBron James that led to a game-tying jumper from Alex Caruso to send the game to overtime.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope spoke on the Lakers struggles late in games executing:
“We’re not being patient enough, trying to force a lot of things… I feel like towards the end of games we’re not playing Lakers basketball like we normally do.”
In tonight’s loss to the Heat LeBron James had a tough time finding his rhythm shooting going 7–21 from the field and 1–8 from the three. James finished one rebound and assists shy of a triple-double ending in the loss with 19 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds in 37 minutes. LeBron James summarized the loss to Miami to the media after the game:
“I think defensively we were very in-tune, connected. Shots just didn’t fall in the fourth.”
Kyle Kuzma had the same issues as LeBron James and many other Lakers players tonight trying to find a rhythm shooting from the field tonight going 8–21 from the field and 4–11 from three. In tonight’s loss, Kyle Kuzma finished with a Lakers game-high 23 points and 4 rebounds in 34 total minutes. Outside of his shooting woes, Kyle Kuzma was everywhere on defense tonight deflecting passes and guarding positions 1 through 5, just like he has all season.
Outside of Montrezl Harrell, the Lakers didn’t have any scoring presence coming from their bench, with the Lakers bench only finishing with 25 points on the night. Montrezl Harrell scored 18 of the Lakers 25 points and ended in the loss with a double-double. In 23 minutes Montrezl Harrell ended the night with 18 points and 10 rebounds on 7–12 shooting. Tonight’s double-double is Montrezl Harrell’s 3rd of the season.
Tonight’s loss showed the true value Dennis Schroder brings to this Lakers team on both sides of the ball. Schroder brings an energetic defensive presence being the Lakers best perimeter defender and guard the opponent's primary ball-handler. His perimeter defense was missed tonight as Miami’s Kendrick Nunn scored a game-high 27 points on the night. Schroder’s offense was also another aspect of his game that was missed in tonight’s loss, with the starting point guard averaging 14.2 points per game this season.
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel spoke of the length of games Dennis Schroder will miss and said he will miss at least two more games for the Lakers. Thankfully, it was reported he tested negative for covid but just for protocol, he will miss games because of potential exposure through contact tracing.
With tonight’s home defeat the Lakers now have a record at Staples Center of 9–6. The Lakers now move to third place in the NBA behind the 24–6 Utah Jazz and the 22–9 rival Los Angeles Clippers.
The Lakers will now face the heavy backcourt Washington Wizards who have a record of 10–17 and are coming off a huge win over the Portland Trail Blazer giving them their 4th straight win. The Wizards will use the momentum they have to try and give the NBA champion Lakers their 3rd straight loss.