This soul-killing buzzer-beating loss for the Lakers was one they had coming for a long time. They've been in do-or-die situations before where they've missed their free throws and gave the enemy a chance to tie or win or in the final seconds. Most of the time the other team misses....but not tonight.
A great statistical night for the Lakers young core (Kuzma- 33/9/4, 12/24 FG//////Ingram - 22/3/2/1, 8/19 FG//////Lonzo - 20/9/12/2/1, 8/13 FG) was overshadowed by a Bogdan Bogdanovic(23 pts, 9/16 FG) three-ball over Tyson Chandler to win the game. Excuse me while I go fling myself off the 405 Freeway.
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Game Recap
First Quarter
No LeBron James or Rajon Rondo for the Lakers tonight. The Kings took advantage of this early, charging out of the gate to a 4-13 lead off a perfect 6/6 shooting. De'Aaron Fox was absolutely balling for the Kings, tallying four assists in the early going to pad that Sacramento lead.
Right when things got going for Sacramento, the Lakers struck back and cut the once-double digit lead to only four, 17-21. Their young core of Ingram, Kuzma and Ball was doing all the heavy lifting. The purple and gold went on a roaring 14-2 run to recapture the lead heading into the second quarter, 34-32
Second Quarter
LA managed to gain some space in the opening minutes in large part to stellar play by Ivica Zubac. The young Croatian was spinning, driving, and dishing his way to a few pretty paint buckets as the Lakers held the narrow lead. You could tell Zu was playing with confidence just by the boldness of his offensive attack. Despite the showing by Zu, Sac tied it up quick at 45-all thanks to a couple Laker defensive breakdowns.
Neither team had broken out in this dead-even battle. We were seeing some great two-man game from Lonzo/Kuz in the pick and roll and in transition. Lonzo already had 7 assists (five of which were for Kyle Kuzma). The Lakers ended the second quarter on a run much like the end of the third quarter. LA nestled itself into a six-point lead in this Sacramento no-defense fest 67-61.
Standout performances included Kuz, who already had 23 points to his name on 8/15 FG. We wondered who was going to step up in LeBron's absence. So far just about everyone was willing. The young stars(Ball, Kuzma, Ingram) all combined for 50 of the Lakeshow's 67 first half points.
Third Quarter
Lonzo nailed a triple to push the Laker lead to nine, but the Kings defense stepped up right after that (particularly in the paint) to shrink the deficit to only one, 70-69. The Lakers were moving the ball beautifully, they just couldn't convert their looks by Zubac under the basket. It was frustrating as hell to watch! Three turnovers and missed dunks could've given them a comfortable lead, but Sacramento battled and here we were. Zubac was looking like the guy they sent to the G-League mere weeks ago.
The Lakeshow eventually found their footing and drummed up another nine-point advantage over the Kings. Lonzo was looking reeeeally good out there. The good times were in jeopardy though as Lonzo grabbed his left calf and limped off the floor. We were hoping it was just a cramp and that he'd be ready to go shortly. That left Ingram and Lance Stephenson as the main shot creators. They held it down admirably as the team held an eleven-point cushion as we geared up for the fourth, 95-84.
Fourth Quarter
The Lakers had a chance to break this thing open but they just couldn't convert on any of their easy looks. Sacramento wasn't shooting amazingly but they nailed a couple back-to-back shots which cut it to seven. The Lakers stretched it back to fifteen, but then Sac came correct with a barrage of three's to invigorate the Norcal crowd. They cut it to seven once again off a red-hot Iman Shumpert and Bogdonavic 13-2 run. Only a four-point game with four minutes to play!
Crunch Time
At that point, the Sacramento crowd was on fire. The once-double digit lead was down to one. The Kings were charging and the Lakers couldn't make a shot for the life of them! No LeBron or Rondo to guide the ship home. This one had to be closed by Lonzo, Kuz, Ingram and Hart. Lakers clinging to life 108-107 with 2:49 to go.
In the following possessions, Sacramento had some wiiiiide-open shots - but they all bricked hard! After a ridiculous scramble, Lonzo managed to take the ball coast-to-coast for a Laker bucket which pushed the lead back to three. But after that his left leg cramp came back! Only 1:42 to play. Kings ball.
Several plays later, Kyle Kuzma drove middle for a clutch bucket to put the Lakeshow back up three. After that, they fouled a Sacramento three-point shooter on the other end for three free throws! Sacramento made them all. Tie ball game. LA had the ball who ran an isolation play for Kuzma - and he drained a Kobe-esque three off the wing! Sacramento then hit some free throws to make it a one-point game once again.
Lakers blew their next possession and the Kings were running in transition with a chance to take the lead - but they blew two layups! Brandon Ingram got fouled where he hit one of two. Kings ball with only four seconds left in the entire game. Lakers up 116-114. Everything came down to this last play. Bogdonavic got the ball at the top of the arc and threw it up - and it sank! Kings win on a buzzer beater 116-117.
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Takeaways
I had a feeling they were going to give up an easy look at three and very likely a basket. This is one of those that will come back to haunt the Lakers come playoff time. Brandon Ingram missed a free throw that would've made it a three-point game. And then the Lakers committed the cardinal defensive sin of giving up the three-pointer to take the loss in Sacramento. I don't have to sit here and tell you how important hitting your free throws is. Maybe this humiliating loss will finally stick with Brandon and cause him to take free throws more seriously. One can only hope.
But it wasn't just the missed free throw. Turnovers kill them as well. Ingram had five, Kuzma had six, and the Lakers just couldn't get their crunch time defense right. Keep in mind that Lonzo and his stellar defense(held Fox to 6/20 shooting tonight) didn't take part in those last few possessions because he cramped up. I'd like to think that game ends differently with Lonzo on the floor. Maybe Chandler still gets switched on him regardless - but maybe Lonzo makes a great play beforehand and they aren't even in that situation.
This should've been a heartwarming win for us with no LeBron. We should all be talking MAD shit right now to Kings fans on Twitter. Alas, we can't. Maybe it's karma for all the shit we talked after washing the Warriors two days ago. Laker Nation has to hold this sour L. I hate losing to the fucking Kings man. You KNOW this is going to be a highlight of their season because they'll probably miss the playoffs or get sent packing in the first round. I almost hate it as much as losing to the Clippers, Celtics, or Warriors.
Speaking of the Clippers, we play them tomorrow back at Staples Center. It's being billed as a Lakers home game regardless of both teams using the same arena. We probably won't have LeBron for that either. My basketball intuition isn't feeling good about that one either. This was one to forget.
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