Lakers-Heat recap: Lakers offensive struggle continues in third loss in four games

The Los Angeles Lakers played a strong game defensively but their offense was stuck in park all game long.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a place they’ve rarely been over the last two seasons as they lost yet another home game and their third loss in the last four games, 96-94, against the Miami Heat. Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers in scoring on Satruday night while LeBron James finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

James struggled from the field, particularly from the 3-point line, going 1 for 8 from the 3-point line. The Heat deserve credit for their defense on LeBron all night, particularly on the final possession of the game when they double-teamed James and forced him to pass the ball to Alex Caruso for a potential game-winning 3-pointer. Caruso missed and the Heat escaped with a win after LeBron nearly stole the game from them.

The Lakers had a four-game losing streak last season before the NBA Bubble. While they would need to lose two more games in a row to match that, the way they’ve played offensively and the pieces they are missing don’t inspire much confidence. No matter what LeBron can do.