LeBron says Lakers going through take a look at with out a number of ‘large items’

ATLANTA — The Los Angeles Lakers accomplished a brutal four-game highway journey Friday after falling behind within the surge Atlanta Falcons 134-132 in additional time.

Nonetheless LeBron James And Anthony Davis have been each concerned in a number of late-game errors that helped the Hawks earn the victory, James pointed to an total concern that led Los Angeles to lose seven of its final 9 video games, relatively than the precise errors that occurred in Atlanta. .

After the Los Angeles bench was outscored 65-17 in opposition to the Hawks, James stated the Lakers’ lack of depth was being examined. He cited the names of Austin Reaves, Jared Vanderbilt, Christian Bois And Jaxson Hayes — all of whom have been inactive Friday night time — as “high 11” gamers within the Lakers’ potential rotation if wholesome.

“Due to the mismatch between rosters, we’re clearly looking for methods,” James stated. “So it’s extremely tough. We do not have plenty of margin for error. (…) These are large, large, large, large items.”

The most important absence was Reaves, who didn’t play within the 1-3 journey due to a bruised left pelvis and returned to Los Angeles earlier than Friday’s sport for remedy.

“He is like a connector for our offense, however he is additionally a scorer and a playmaker,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated, talking earlier than Friday’s sport, of Reaves, who collected averaged 16.7 factors and 4.8 assists this season. “He does each. And likewise, he is very aggressive and he brings that juice each night time.”

Reaves is taken into account day-to-day forward of Sunday’s dwelling sport in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers.

Hayes has missed 12 of Los Angeles’ final 13 video games with a proper ankle harm and is anticipated to be out at the very least one other week. Wooden (left knee surgical procedure) and Vanderbilt (proper foot surgical procedure and left knee fluid) have not performed all season. Wooden’s schedule stays unclear and Vanderbilt goals to play in early January, based on the Lakers.

Their absences not solely induced Los Angeles to rank within the backside 5 in bench scoring this season, but in addition led Redick to shuffle the roster in the hunt for one thing that sticks — e.g., beginning Gabe Vincent as a substitute of D’Angelo Russell Friday.

James’ feedback got here after he and Davis turned in a few of their greatest performances of the season, though Davis made a number of key errors in additional time. He had a turnover on a go to James with 28 seconds left within the additional session that James averted turning right into a bucket by getting a chase block. Dyson Danielsthen was concerned in a poorly executed inside play when Davis was tied up by three Hawks defenders with 19.6 seconds left, resulting in a soar ball that James could not get well.

James had 39 factors, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks and a couple of steals for his seventh triple-double this season, capturing 14 of 25 from the sphere, together with 6 of 11 from 3 after just lately struggling along with his capturing .

Davis had 38 factors on 15-of-27 capturing, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and a couple of blocks, rebounding from a season-low eight factors on 3-of-14 capturing in Wednesday’s loss to the Miami Warmth.

Davis, for his half, stated the Lakers merely should work with what they’ve in the meanwhile.

“There’s no cavalry,” Davis stated. “No person feels sorry for us. We won’t really feel sorry for ourselves. We simply should maintain placing our heads down and dealing and dealing. Attempt to get again within the win column on Sunday in opposition to Portland… “No match goes to be simple for us, so we’ve got to get the victory.”

James added: “I do not know what’s going to get us over the hump. We simply should not drown. Let’s not drown and we’ll be tremendous.”