The Los Angeles Lakers’ postseason aspirations have taken a hit following a 118-106 defeat to the Orlando Magic on Monday night. This marks the Lakers’ third consecutive loss, bringing their record to 43-28 and placing them in a tie with the Memphis Grizzlies for fourth place in the Western Conference.
Despite the return of LeBron James, who scored 24 points after a seven-game absence due to a groin injury, and Luka Doncic’s 32-point performance, the Lakers struggled defensively. Orlando’s Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero capitalized on these lapses, scoring 32 and 30 points respectively.
Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged the team’s defensive shortcomings, stating, “We’ve got to get back to who we are. Right now, we’re not playing with the kind of defensive identity we need.”
With only 11 games remaining in the regular season, the Lakers face mounting pressure to secure a top-six seed and avoid the play-in tournament. Their recent 3-7 record over the past ten games, with an average margin of defeat of 15.7 points, underscores the urgency for improvement.
The Lakers will need to regroup quickly to strengthen their playoff positioning in the competitive Western Conference.
