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The Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma shoots over the Nets’ Landry Shamet during the second half of Thursday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks toward the video board after foul call on teammate Marc Gasol in the second half of a NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers fouls DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Injured Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Injured Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free-throw against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts toward an official after foul call on teammate Marc Gasol in the second half of a NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Injured Anthony Davis, right, speaks with teammate Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers dives after the loose ball against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers dives after the loose ball against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers dives after the loose ball against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket past James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers slam dunks against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Landry Shamet #20 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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The Lakers’ LeBron James tries to drive to the basket between the Nets’ Jeff Green, left, and Landry Shamet during the first half of Thursday’s game at Staples Center. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers chases a basketball out of bounds against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers chases a basketball out of bounds against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Los Angeles Lakers during a time out against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Joe Harris #12 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Injured Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench against the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Wesley Matthews #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Tyler Johnson #10 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Joe Harris #12 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers loses the ball against DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers loses the ball against DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers fights for the rebound against Tyler Johnson #10 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Bruce Brown #1 of the Brooklyn Nets slam dunks against Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against Wesley Matthews #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers ain the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets passes against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James, left, along with injured teammate Anthony Davis, right, of the Los Angeles Lakers against the Brooklyn Nets in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against Wesley Matthews #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers ain the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets after a foul against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket and his fouled by Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers against the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket and his fouled by Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets controls the ball against Wesley Matthews #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball over James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Steve Nash of the Brooklyn Nets looks on against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket and his fouled by Marc Gasol #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets controls the ball against Wesley Matthews #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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LeBron James, left, along with injured teammate Anthony Davis, right, of the Los Angeles Lakers against the Brooklyn Nets in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Los Angeles Lakers react prior to a NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — In one of the few bright moments for the Lakers on Thursday night, LeBron James found a clear route to the rim. The 36-year-old rose up for the kind of dunk that has left many basketball observers bewildered at how his prime years keep stretching outward.
On the sideline, Kevin Durant had one of the best views of the slam. But the 7-footer, clad in shorts and a hoodie while shelved with a hamstring injury, didn’t react at all.
It’s only February, but a long-term game is already afoot between the Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets, almost universally seen as the two most stacked rosters in the league. Between the defending champions and the new superteam rising in the Eastern Conference, epic dunks aren’t enough to move the needle – only winning does.
James (32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) passed a rare NBA milestone and put on an individual show at Staples Center, but the Lakers (22-8) could not measure up to the collective firepower of the Nets (19-12) in a 109-98 defeat that was not as close as the final score indicated. It wasn’t the ideal matchup of the two contenders given who was missing: With All-Star big man Anthony Davis (right calf strain) and starting point guard Dennis Schröder (COVID-19 protocols) sitting out, the Lakers’ offense sputtered.
Meanwhile, James Harden (23 points, 11 assists) and Kyrie Irving (16 points, seven rebounds) led a Nets team that rained on the Lakers from behind the 3-point line, and two-time NBA Finals MVP Durant – missing the game with a hamstring injury – watched from the bench like a shadow without having to lift a finger.
With both rosters short-handed, the game lacked a sense of deeper meaning for what a potential Finals match-up might look like. But it did underscore how much more the Lakers’ supporting cast needs to do to match Brooklyn, which is on pace for a historic offensive season. While it was one of the more lopsided losses the Lakers have endured this season, James pledged that they would rewatch it with interest, searching for ways to take a leap the next time these teams match up.
“You don’t look at too many games during the season where you have a measuring stick, but when you do, you want to be full,” he said. “And they weren’t full as well. You don’t know really how to go about that. But you can always find ways to get better no matter who is in the lineup.”
The Lakers face an extended period of lineup uncertainty. Coach Frank Vogel said following the loss that Davis is now expected to miss four weeks with his Achilles injury. Schröder’s situation, which the Lakers learned of less than 90 minutes before tip-off, is even less clear, which has been the case for many protocol-related absences this season: “I can’t say anything with clarity how soon he’ll be back,” Vogel said.
The sharpest difference in the lineups was shooting: The Nets made 18 of their 39 shots from behind the arc. The Lakers again came up wanting, hitting just 8 of 30 from deep. The imbalance helped Brooklyn carry a double-digit lead for almost the entire second half, a margin that grew as large as 25 points.
As much damage as Harden and Irving did, the difference-maker was how well their teammates shot: Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Joe Harris combined to go 11 for 15 from 3-point range.
The Lakers couldn’t find the same juice down their roster. The entire Laker bench mustered 31 points, roughly half of which were scored during garbage minutes, and Kyle Kuzma (16 points, 10 rebounds) was the only starter besides James who scored in double figures. It was only the fourth time this season the Lakers failed to reach 100 points.
The Lakers have seen a gradual slide in 3-point shooting: They’re now 19th overall at 35.8 percent after boasting the third-best percentage a dozen games into the season. On some possessions, the Nets stacked five defenders in or near the paint to take away their drives. While some of the Lakers’ shooting slump can be attributed to passing up some looks, Wesley Matthews said, the Lakers believe they’ll find their way back on their outside stroke.
“It’s just putting it together when it’s time on the court, and the shots will fall,” he said. “This will be a little blip in the season that you guys will soon not write about anymore, because the Lakers will be hot from three, and we’ll start climbing the charts again on 3-point percentages. We’ll be good.”
The first half saw James casually skip past a scoring milestone only two other players have ever reached: When he sank a free throw, he surpassed 35,000 career points. In the NBA record book, James is only chasing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928) among all-time scorers.
But even though James had plenty of success driving into the lane against the undersized Brooklyn frontcourt, as a whole, the Lakers were out-gunned. They clearly missed the mid-range shooting of Davis and the off-the-dribble creation of Schröder. The loss of sync without those two starters helped contribute to another mistake-prone night which saw the Lakers cough up 16 turnovers.
“When you’re playing against a switch-everything defense, Dennis’ ability to break down his man and get into the paint is more needed against an opponent like this than anyone,” Vogel said. “So, we definitely missed him. But we had plenty of firepower to get the job done.”
That could be a common refrain for the Lakers in the coming weeks, during a stretch that includes games against Miami, Utah, Golden State and Portland. The second half of the regular-season schedule will be released in the coming week, giving the Lakers a sense of what other teams they’ll have to grit their teeth through until Davis can return.
That will mean more stepping up for everyone, and perhaps James most of all. But the four-time league MVP said he couldn’t get caught up in the challenges that much of the NBA has already faced and the Lakers are skidding into now.
“I have to stay in the moment,” he said. “I’m going to start to prepare myself already to get ready for Saturday’s matchup with Miami and just keep my focus that way. Stay low and keep firing. I have not even thought that far down of what it looks like four weeks from now.”
LeBron PUNISHES the rim on TNT! pic.twitter.com/qwP73niw0g
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2021
“We just didn’t play to our capabilities tonight. Give them credit.” @KingJames on tonight’s loss and becoming the third player to ever reach 35,000 career points. pic.twitter.com/1Bv0NekWOX
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 19, 2021
Frank Vogel discusses his takeaways from tonight’s loss, Dennis Schröder’s late scratch and LeBron James’ minutes. pic.twitter.com/a9lXy5jkyM
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 19, 2021
With this free throw, LeBron James becomes the 3rd player in NBA history to reach 35,000 career points, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone!
Watch on TNT pic.twitter.com/UWaz1fnqFn
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2021
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