The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Sacramento Kings, 116-111, on Wednesday, and they were their own worst enemy.
After going up by 14 late in the first quarter, L.A. lost its lead in the second quarter because they stopped defending, rebounding and running, and Sacramento hit the offensive boards. The deficit ballooned to as many as 14 in the third period, before LeBron James and company made a run to make the game very close down the stretch.
Yet in the final minutes, the Lakers’ offense slowed to a halt. They milked the shot clock and forced themselves to take low-percentage shots at the end of the shot clock. Still, with 7 seconds left, Kendrick Nunn hit a 3-pointer to pull the Lakers within one.
Right away, the Kings attempted to fast break, and instead of getting back quickly, the Lakers committed a clear path foul on Richaun Holmes, who made both free throws. Afterward, they fouled Trey Lyles, who made two more to give Sacramento a 116-111 win.
The Lakers have lost four of their last five games, and they have failed to take advantage of their home-heavy January schedule: They have lost three of the four games on their current homestand.