Los Angeles Lakers are in trouble as the in-city rivals Los Angeles Clippers added to their losing record.
More importantly, the Clippers took an easy 132-111 win in another disappointing performance for the Lakers.
Ivica Zubac had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who seized control of the sweep-clinching victory and their seventh straight win over the Lakers overall.
LeBron James had 26 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost four straight and seven of eight to fall a season-worst eight games below .500 (27-35).
The Lakers seemed disorganized and unwilling to make the right plays. Shooting was once again the biggest issue, with just 12 made threes in 35 attempts.
The Lakers are the 11th worst team in the NBA regarding three-point shooting. They just make 34.6 percent of their threes.
”We’re just persistent and staying with the work,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. ”We’ll leave no stone unturned to get this right, but it hasn’t come together for us. We’ll continue to try to find ways to win with Anthony (Davis) out. It’s not something we can’t do, but we haven’t found it yet.”
Reggie Jackson’s big night
LeBron James has admitted the Clippers are the better team after the Lakers were decimated by the very determined Clippers.
Even without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers are always putting the effort. This was Reggie Jackson’s time to shine as the veteran guard dropped 36 points against his former teammate Russell Westbrook.
The Clippers were +44 when Jackson was on the floor, while the Clippers had 32 assists and shot 54 percent from the field and 63 percent from deep.
”We came out on a mission,” Jackson said. ”We wanted to close out. We’re still a hungry team. … We feel like we’re writing our own story. We know what the narrative is with our guys out. We’re trying to do something special with this group. It’s about this team, to write our own story.”
Jackson is averaging 17.0 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds for the season. During the last five games, he registers 21.6 points on 44 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Clippers have improved to 34-31, nailing its fifth consecutive victory.
”He loves the moment. He’s a big-time player. Sometimes we go back and forth, but he’s held us together all year,” Ty Lue said on Reggie Jackson.
Feelin’ good and lettin’ it fly! 📺 @NBAonTNT | @Reggie_Jackson pic.twitter.com/VPA4XYZfeL — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 4, 2022
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