LeBron James expressed frustration as the Los Angeles Lakers faced their 10th loss in 13 games, falling 127-113 to the Memphis Grizzlies. “We just suck right now,” said James, visibly perturbed after scoring 32 points in the Lakers’ fourth consecutive loss.
Anthony Davis contributed 31 points in the discouraging defeat since winning the NBA In-Season Tournament. The Lakers, post their triumph, have only beaten San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Charlotte in the last four weeks.
Coach Darvin Ham, confident in his job security, praised the team’s improvements and expressed frustration with the public’s reaction to their struggles. “This is the NBA, man,” said Ham. “It’s like, ‘Come on, man. This is a marathon.’ We hit a tough stretch. It’s the same team. We’ve got to keep the fight, though. We cannot lose our fight.”
LeBron Disagrees on Coach’s Hope
However, LeBron James disagreed with the coach’s optimism, emphasizing that their success in Vegas was just a small sample. Austin Reaves had 19 points and a career-high 12 assists, but the Lakers dropped to 0-2 in a challenging 12-game stretch.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart led the Grizzlies with impressive performances, securing only their second win in six games. Desmond Bane and Ja Morant also played pivotal roles in Memphis’ victory. Marcus Smart, after a low-percentage shooting season, redeemed himself with eight 3-pointers.
LeBron acknowledged missed opportunities for the Lakers, citing turnovers and his own missed free throws. Despite the challenges, he emphasized the need to regain their earlier high-level performance.
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In the fourth quarter, Ziaire Williams contributed 10 of his 15 points as the Grizzlies pulled away with a game-ending 24-10 run. The Lakers, facing a tough stretch, need to refocus and rediscover their winning form in the competitive NBA marathon.