Lakers vs. Wizards takeaways: Horrendous defense spoils LeBron James’ historic night

The Lakers confirmed no resistance on protection, permitting the struggling Washington Wizards to have their approach and Kristaps Porzingis to dominate the fourth quarter.

The Lakers have been a horrendous defensive group all season, and on an evening when LeBron James made historical past by scoring 38 factors to grow to be the NBA’s second-leading scorer with a complete of 36,947 factors over a 19-year profession, surpassing Karl Malone (36,928), the Lakers couldn’t totally have fun the accomplishment as a result of their protection allow them to down once more.

“You bought to have a lockdown protection within the fourth and we didn’t have that tonight,” coach Frank Vogel stated. “The ultimate three quarters, we didn’t defend properly sufficient.”

The Lakers started to slip on protection within the second quarter and stored going downhill throughout their 127-119 defeat to the Wizards.

They allowed 32 factors to the Wizards within the second, 35 within the third and 34 within the fourth.

The Lakers’ porous protection allowed the Wizards to make 56.5% of their pictures within the third and 63.2% within the fourth. For the sport, the Wizards shot 51.8% from the sphere.

Then there was Porzingis.

He used his 7-foot-3 body to take over the sport within the fourth, scoring 16 of his 27 factors. He was six for seven within the quarter, a pressure the Lakers couldn’t cease.

“Kristaps received it going, was making the most of what we was doing,” Carmelo Anthony stated.

Because of a Lakers protection that entered the sport ranked twenty sixth in factors allowed (113.8), they’ve only a half-game lead over the New Orleans Pelicans for the ninth seed within the Western Convention.

Westbrook has one other good sport

Russell Westbrook leaped and grabbed an offensive rebound over Porzingis, his eighth rebound of the sport, and threw a no-look cross to a reducing Stanley Johnson, who was fouled by Porzingis on a layup try.

Westbrook smiled, a glance of pleasure on his face for the best way he and the best way the Lakers have been taking part in in constructing a 14-point lead within the third quarter.

Westbrook adopted up his sturdy outing in Toronto on Friday night time with 22 factors on 10-for-15 capturing, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

“I simply attempt to play and see what‘s the easiest way to have the ability to match with our group every night time,” stated Westbrook, who additionally had 5 turnovers. “It may be a mix of various issues I’m able to do on the ground, so I strive to do this after I can.”