“It Was the Whole Game” – LeBron James and Darvin Ham Issue Strong Lakers Message After Loss vs Michael Jordan’s Hornets
With 6.3 seconds left, Gordon Hayward made the game-winning basket on a goaltending call against LeBron James, and the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 134-130 to earn only their second victory in their previous 11 games. James led the Lakers to a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback, scoring 18 of his 34 points as they overcame a 16-point hole in the second half. In the last 2:30, James scored 11 straight points or provided an assist, and with 30 seconds left, he drove for the go-ahead basket. It was a horrible way for James and the Lakers to go out.
After receiving the inbounds ball, LeBron James attempted to drive to the hoop right away. He appeared to be about to past his initial opponent when the shoe on his left foot came off, sending him down.
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LeBron James and Darvin Ham speak after loss vs Hornets
“This one pisses me off a little bit,” Ham said. “We constantly talk about … self-inflicted wounds — not protecting the paint, not holding teams to one possession … not being disciplined with our running habits, turning the ball over. We have to do a much, much better job, again, of maintaining competitiveness, closing out teams, holding them to one possession, possession by possession, just holding them to one shot.”
“It wasn’t just down the stretch, it was the whole game,” LeBron James said. “Not matching up in transition, not putting bodies on bodies for rebounds … those are self-inflicted wounds. We just don’t have a lot of room for error.”
LeBron James spoke briefly before the Lakers hurriedly left on a five-game road trip that begins on Christmas against the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic. Despite the fact that the previous two losses were to playoff-caliber teams, it was the Lakers’ third straight defeat. The lack of Anthony Davis couldn’t be used as a defense by the floundering Hornets against the Lakers (13-19). (9-24). They realize that they ought to have won this game.
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