The Los Angeles Lakers responded to their worst loss of the season, a 29-point setback over the Minnesota Timberwolves, with an unquestionably worse 93-134 loss against the Miami Heat tonight.
The Lakers looked like ghosts on both ends of the court as the Heat caught fire and destroyed the purple and gold franchise at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
LeBron James broke his six-game string of shooting less than 45% from the field with 29 points (12-18 FG) and eight assists. He was the only Laker who had an answer for the Heat, as Anthony Davis had his worst night of the season, scoring eight points (3-14 FG), seven rebounds, and five assists.
Rui Hachimura (14 PTS), D’Angelo Russell (12 PTS), and Max Christie (11 PTS) were the only Lakers alongside LeBron to score double digits. Fans and experts were stunned at the display from the Lakers tonight.
“I’m embarrassed for the Lakers. They were down 32 points to the Miami Heat 105-72 at the end of the third quarter,” said Lakers legend Magic Johnson, ashamed of the team at the end of the third quarter.
“The Lakers performance right now is as bad as any team this season,” said ESPN Front Office insider Bobby Marks.
“This might be the worst effort I have ever seen in the last few years. This Lakers team quit before the game even started. In no world should (my guy) Kevin Love be able to guard AD or AD not go at him every time,” said Channing Frye, LeBron’s former championship-winning teammate on the Cavaliers.
Online basketball personality Rob Perez mocked the Lakers’ struggle by creating a meme YouTube thumbnail showing Lakers coach JJ Redick and LeBron doing their podcast together.
“The Lakers are a disgrace bro. Nothing worse than watching a team actively quit on the court. They have legitimately given up and it starts with their best 2 players. Horrible body language from both Bron and ADm and that trickles down to the entire team,” said one fan slamming the franchise for their despicable effort tonight.
“Lakers this year vs last year is legit the perfect example of why yall should stop blaming every single thing wrong with your shitty team on a head coach,” said a fan making it clear that the team’s problems are not because of coaching.
“Lakers had shit vibes w this roster for years now, Coach be damned. That fluke WCF run conned the FO into thinking this group can compete. Pelinka is either genuinely stupid, or saying ‘f**k it’ until Bron hangs it up. I refuse to believe anyone in that buliding really believes in this roster,” said another fan.
The Miami Heat were led by Tyler Herro’s explosive 31 points (11-19 FG) at the forefront. Jimmy Butler contributed 17 points (8-12 FG), nine rebounds, and five assists, while Bam Adebayo put up 14 points (6-8 FG), 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Terry Rozier had 16 points (6-11 FG) off the bench while Haywood Highsmith (14 PTS) and Kevin Love (10 PTS) also scored in double digits.
It was a franchise-high for the Heat from three tonight, going 24-47 (51.1 3P%). That sort of hot shooting likely doomed the Lakers anyway, but their complete lack of competitiveness was something few saw coming. The Lakers folded before the opening tip and looked incapable of making a comeback as the lead slowly ballooned.
The Lakers fell to 12-10 on the season and are now the No. 9 seed in the West. They’ll be hoping to turn their form around in their next game against the Atlanta Hawks.
