Lakers can’t build on momentum as they fall to 76ers

On the time, it appeared unnecessarily daring, the Lakers taking part in so-so basketball when Anthony Davis casually laid all of it out in late November.

“We might go on a 10-game profitable streak, 12-game profitable streak,” Davis stated after the Lakers misplaced to the Sacramento Kings, “now the narrative is completely different.”

The narrative, months later heading into the final week of March, isn’t any completely different.

Since Davis’ assertion, the Lakers have had simply three profitable streaks, momentum unattainable to return by in a season that has develop into an increasing number of hopeless because the season progresses.

They gained two in a row proper after Davis’ proposition. Later, they’d win three in a row earlier than profitable 4 straight in early January.

And since? Nothing.

That was 75 days in the past.

For a franchise that after gained 33 in a row, the shortcoming to string even two wins in a row might quickly be season-ending. With the Lakers headed for the again finish of the NBA’s play-in match, they’ll have to win consecutive video games first to even make the playoffs.

The newest quest for consecutive wins occurred Wednesday evening in opposition to Joel Embiid, James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers. And regardless of loads of battle — a trait that has moved to the floor notably within the final week, the Lakers walked off the court docket with 126-121 loss at Crypto.com Area.

The staff’s final 10 wins have been instantly adopted by a loss.

Wednesday, the Lakers have been underdogs — and that was even earlier than the staff dominated LeBron James out due to a sore left knee.

“Performed three video games in 4 nights — lot of minutes,” Frank Vogel stated of James’ current street journey. “There’s sufficient soreness to maintain him out.”

The following Lakers sport is Sunday in New Orleans, giving James 5 days relaxation on a difficulty that he has wrestled with because the finish of January.

“If he will be in there,” Vogel stated, “he needs to be in there.”

James’ solely influence Wednesday got here between the primary and second quarters, when he acquired a standing ovation for passing Karl Malone on the NBA’s all-time scoring checklist following a tribute video.

In any other case, he was on the bench sitting subsequent to Davis and watching the Lakers play in opposition to top-of-the-line groups within the East whereas making an attempt to maintain a number of the good vibes from their current journey the place they gained two of the ultimate three video games.

Stanley Johnson, a participant who wasn’t even on the Lakers when Davis questioned what issues can be like as soon as the Lakers gained 10 straight, opened the sport by hitting 5 straight photographs within the first half, together with a trio of three-pointers.

Johnson was a part of one other new Lakers’ beginning 5 — their thirty fifth of the season together with him, Russell Westbrook, Wenyen Gabriel, Austin Reaves and Dwight Howard.

Talen Horton-Tucker additionally sat out his second straight sport due to an ankle harm.

The lineup spoke to in-season changes the Lakers have wanted to make, their staff counting on a two-way participant, an undrafted rookie and an in-season free agent to spherical out their finest lineup whereas a handful of veterans sat on the bench.

“It’s not ideally suited, however that is teaching within the NBA. You locate the fellows that you just really feel finest about, who provide the finest likelihood to win,” Vogel stated. “And that’s the place we’re at. Everyone within the locker room solely needs what’s finest for the staff and for us to win, so all people’s pulling in the identical course.”

Making photographs and taking part in with tempo, the Lakers led by six early earlier than the 76ers’ expertise ultimately helped them draw back.

As Embiid stepped to the road early within the third quarter about to attain his twentieth level, a quick “MVP” chant started earlier than Lakers followers shortly drowned it out with boos.

Philadelphia led by as many as 14 earlier than the Lakers surged late within the third.

Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony hit threes, Howard completed across the basket and Malik Monk gave the Lakers nice vitality and electrified the gang with a reverse dunk — the run closing the hole to only two heading into the fourth.

Westbrook even moved previous Elgin Baylor to No. 32 on the NBA’s all-time scoring checklist, receiving cheerswhen the achievement was celebrated on the scoreboard.

The Lakers, although, couldn’t maintain it — too many empty possessions and never sufficient protection to cease Embiid, Harden and Tyrese Maxey. All three scored greater than 20.

And the Lakers have been pressured to attend, once more, for a streak price celebrating.