Short-handed Lakers fall to Heat late in fourth quarter
MIAMI—The Los Angeles Lakers short-handed rotation and late-game opportunities weren't enough, falling to the Miami Heat 108–107 to drop their record to 3–4.
“I’m so proud of our guys, just the way they came out. Didn’t quit, stayed competitive,” head coach Darvin Ham said. “Sucks not to get the W, but I’m sure we’ll get our fair share in the these next 75 games.”
The Lakers arrived in Miami with an eight-man rotation due to injured players out of the lineup but left with only six players after losing two key contributors.
In the first half, Anthony Davis suffered hip spasms and attempted to play through it at the start of the second half but ultimately couldn’t continue. Late in the fourth quarter, D’Angelo Russell was ejected with seven minutes remaining after receiving a double-technical during a Lakers timeout.
Davis finished with nine points, six rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes. Russell finished with 13 points, six assists and four rebounds in 28 minutes.
Davis expressed optimism for the Lakers next game, saying he thinks he’ll be ready on Wednesday against the Houston Rockets.
“I think letting it calm down, just talking to my trainer, everything will be fine,” Davis said.
The Lakers staged a late fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring Miami 28–18 to close the gap to just one point with under a minute left. But two missed three-point attempts by Austin Reaves and a last-second corner three miss by Cam Reddish ultimately decided the loss for L.A., missing a gifted opportunity to steal the win.
“Be ready again because there will be many more opportunities,” LeBron said on Reddish’s last-second miss. “I know I’m going to see two defenders late in games. Just be ready.”
Reaves finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a game-high 40 minutes of action.
LeBron James had his most explosive performance thus far of the season, finishing with multiple one-handed tomahawk dunks.
In 37 minutes, LeBron finished with a game-high 30 points on 13-of-23 shooting from the field, adding four rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers will face the Houston Rockets on the road this Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Toyota Center.
