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dave mcmenamin
multiple authors
Los Angeles – The lakers lost to orlando magic 110-109 After a bad sideline out-of-bounds play on Tuesday Lebron James And luka doncic Failed to deliver a quality shot in the final seconds.
after the magic center Wendell Carter Jr. Scoring on a putback with 6.7 seconds left to put Orlando up one point, LA called timeout. On the ensuing play, James passed the ball to an open Doncic, who caught it on the left wing beyond the 3-point line, but opted not to shoot.
“I know I was open, but I thought I was a little off,” Doncic said. “Trying to take a dribble close. And I probably shouldn’t have picked up the ball and tried to attack.”
Once he stopped his dribble, Doncic was immediately double-teamed by the Magic paolo banchero And anthony black. He stopped, turned and passed the ball back to James, who was covered by Orlando. jonathan isaac on the wing.
James caught the pass with 2.9 seconds remaining, got away from Isaac and hit a 27-foot 3-pointer that missed the buzzer.
When James was asked for clarification about what broke, he said, “I thought he looked good and it looked like he lost his balance.” “There was no rhythm with the ball, whatever the case may be. And that was allowed.” [Orlando’s defense] To get back in front of him. And when he gave it to me I was kind of thrown off balance. I thought she had a great look. That’s my POV.”
Doncic, who was 8 of 24 and 2 of 10 from 3 in the game, was asked if his shooting struggles had crossed his mind when he turned down the initial shot.
“Maybe a little bit,” he said. “I guess I thought it was more time. What it was, six, seven seconds. It was enough time to get a better look, to try to drive the ball, that’s why I chose [up my dribble]”
Doncic said he did not talk to James about the game after the game.
Asked if he believed James would have a good shot to win it when he passed it, Doncic – who had 15 assists on the season – said he thought James did.
“I mean, I just saw him get open and I didn’t want to lose the ball,” Doncic said. “We didn’t have a timeout… [But] I should not have picked up the ball. I should have attacked. …He’s on me.”
The inbounds play was one of several missed opportunities that led to LA blowing a 12-point lead in the second half and losing for the first time all season after leading 25–0 after three quarters.
With 44.7 seconds remaining, James missed a free throw that would have put LA ahead by 3, and Orlando Desmond Bain Made a 3 on the next possession to give the Magic a one-point lead.
When Banchero missed a pull-up shot with LA facing off with 10.5 seconds remaining, the Lakers failed to secure a defensive rebound, leading to Carter’s layup.
The loss to Orlando dropped the Lakers’ record in their eight-game homestand to 4-4. they go out into the street to play phoenix sun After this on Thursday Golden State Warriors On Saturday.
“It’s a little frustrating,” the Lakers center said. deandre ayton Said about domestic loss. “We’ve still got a lot of opportunities to get in as good a position as possible. Felt weird in the homestand, just 4-4. It was a tough loss and played against some very good teams. But … just get back in the lab and get ready for the next game.”
