The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a significant defeat by 111-108 against the Brooklyn Nets in the first game after LeBron James' injury. The Nets, coached by Spanish coach Jordi Fernández, achieved a much-needed victory after seven consecutive losses.
In addition to the absence of LeBron James for at least two weeks due to a groin injury, the Lakers (40-23) had several key absences such as Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes.
Luka Doncic, who had been questionable due to back issues, recorded his second triple-double with the Lakers but struggled with his shooting, going 8 of 26 from the field (3 of 10 from three-point range). The Slovenian contributed 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists on the night.
Despite his contributions in rebounds and assists, Doncic faced difficulties on offense, scoring only 6 of 19 shots, including 3 of 13 from beyond the arc. The Lakers were outmatched in the second quarter with 5 turnovers, allowing the Nets to take a slight lead at halftime (48-47) after dominating the period.
On the Lakers team, players like Goodwin and Vincent stood out with 14 and 13 points respectively, while Doncic finished the night with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists, despite facing constant defense. Austin Reaves, meanwhile, fell short with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists but with poor shooting accuracy.
On the Nets' side, Keon Johnson was the most productive with 9 points, followed by Noah Clowney, Cameron Johnson, and Tyrese Martin, who contributed to the scoring. The Nets secured a key victory after a seven-game losing streak, taking advantage of the Lakers' 15 turnovers.
Despite having chances at the end, a three-pointer from D’Angelo Russell and a basket from Ziaire Williams sealed the game in favor of the Nets. The Lakers, despite a comeback attempt, could not avoid defeat at the hands of an inspired Nets team.
