Lakers can’t overcome a huge turnover night in loss to the Heat.
The short-handed Lakers battled all game tonight but fell short losing 110–104 to the Miami Heat in their second matchup this season. On top of being without stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers came into tonight’s matchup without role players Kyle Kuzma, who was out due to a calf injury, and Talen Horton-Tucker, who was suspended 1 game due to leaving the bench in a huge scuffle in Tuesdays win over the Raptors. Tonight’s loss drops the Lakers season record to 32–20 keeping them in 5th place as they try to stay afloat in the West with Portland one game behind them.
In the past two games, the Lakers have combined for 43 turnovers (21 vs TOR, 22 vs MIA), tying their 2nd worst of the season 22 turnovers in tonight’s loss to the Heat. Miami Heat was able to take advantage of the Lakers mishaps, scoring 33 points off of the 22 Laker turnovers. 16 of the Lakers’ 22 turnovers came from the starting lineup, as the Lakers continue to fight to stay afloat in the West they must clean up their sloppy turnover mishaps as the room for error gets smaller and smaller without their stars.
Head Frank Vogel said after today’s game that he challenged Kentavious Caldwell-Pope before tonight’s game to score 25 points. Well, Caldwell-Pope exceeded that task scoring a season-high 28 points in tonight’s defeat. Caldwell-Pope shot 6 for 11 (54%) from three and 11 for 20 (55%) overall from the field in his 39 minutes of action. KCP told the media that the words from head coach Frank Vogel challenging him to be more aggressive encouraged him, saying: “I think it’s helped my game a lot.”
The Lakers welcomed back Andre Drummond in the starting lineup after missing the past 3 games with a toe injury. Andre Drummond said his toe held up pretty well in his first game back saying: “It felt good. A little sore, but nothing that’s going to hold me back. “ In Drummond’s first full game as a Laker he did what he has done almost all his career, averaging a double-double. In 26 minutes, Drummond had 15 points and 12 rebounds on 5 of 9 (55.5%) shooting from the field. Drummond is a career 14.6 points and 13.8 rebounder and he was brought on to do just that, showing his skill set he can bring to this Lakers team moving forward.
Lakers starting guard Dennis Schröder had a hot and cold offensive performance in tonight’s loss. Schröder shot 2 for 12 (16.6%) total from the field, scoring his first bucket in the 3rd quarter, while also committing a game-high 7 turnovers. In his 40 minutes of action, Schröder finished with a double-double of 10 points, 14 assists, and 6 rebounds. Schröder said that his turnovers were “stupid decisions” and a huge issue for the Lakers tonight saying “I take that on me for not taking care of the ball.”
With the Lakers being without two major role players Kyle Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker, they had a very quiet performance from the bench only scoring 25 points in tonight’s loss. Montrezl Harrell gave the Lakers 10 points and 9 rebounds in 21 minutes, Alex Caruso added 5 points and 6 assists, Alfonzo McKinnie getting 4 points, and newly signed Ben Mclemore scoring 6 points in his Laker debut.
Despite the Lakers losses in the past week there isn’t panic from this team as they know what they will be about once LeBron James and Anthony Davis are healthy. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said he doesn’t think too much about when their stars come back, but said ”when I do think about it, it looks scary. ” Anthony Davis gave a little hint on Instagram that he might come back next week after missing the past two months and that would be a good time as any as the Western Conference standings loom.
The Lakers will travel for their 4th of 7 straight away games this Saturday against a heavy-loaded Brooklyn Nets team who have one of the best lineups this game has ever seen assembled. The Lakers have a huge task as they look to get back in the win column and defeat a heavily favored team to come out of the east, perhaps a possible finals matchup of this year’s 2021 NBA finals.