The Los Angeles Lakers are finally healthy, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis back from injuries. However, the Lakers are playing their worst basketball of the season.
Trailing by as many as 21 points, the Lakers lost at home to the Toronto Raptors, 121-114, at the Staples Center on Sunday, May 2 (Monday, May 3, Manila time).
Pascal Siakam carried the scoring load for Toronto, finishing with 39 points and 13 rebounds. Kyle Lowry finished with a season-high 37 points and 11 assists for the Raptors.
DeAndre’ Bembry chipped in 14 points and 8 rebounds for Toronto.
The Lakers have lost 6 of their last 7 games and are 0-2 since James returned to the starting lineup after a right high ankle sprain. James finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists but played 26 minutes and departed with 6:42 left due to soreness in the ankle.
Point guard Dennis Schröder did not play for the Lakers due to healthy and safety protocols. The Lakers are 0-5 this season with Schröder out of the lineup.
Even more embarrassing for the Lakers is Toronto played shorthanded in the second night of a back-to-back after going toe-to-toe with the Utah Jazz in a tough road loss.
OG Anunoby (left calf strain), Chris Boucher (left knee sprain), Gary Trent Jr (left leg contusion), Fred VanVleet (left hip flexor), and Paul Watson (left knee tendonitis) all sat out for the Raptors.
Kyle Kuzma came off the bench to provide some offensive firepower for Los Angeles, finishing with a team-high 24 points.
Andre Drummond totaled 19 points and 11 rebounds. Anthony Davis finished with 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.
With the Lakers’ loss to Toronto, the Dallas Mavericks (36-28) losing at home to the Sacramento Kings and the Portland Trail Blazers (36-28) defeating the Boston Celtics on the road, the Lakers (36-28), Mavericks, and Trail Blazers are all tied for the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.
With the win, Toronto (27-38) moved 2 1/2 games behind the Washington Wizards for the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference and a chance to get into the play-in game for the postseason tournament.
The Lakers led 38-32 after the 1st quarter, but the undermanned Raptors rallied in the 2nd period, outscoring Los Angeles 23-6 over the final 6 minutes of the salvo to take a 13-point lead at halftime.
The Raptors’ 72 points are the second-most the Lakers have given up all season in a half. Los Angeles had led by as many as 12 points in the first half.
The Raptors continued to pour it on, extending their lead to 21 points early in the 3rd quarter. The Lakers cut the Raptors’ lead to 6 points late in the 4th quarter, but failed to get any closer. – Rappler.com
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