Lakers Highlights: LeBron-Less LA Botches Road Match In Minnesota, Loses Fourth Straight

LA is in a legitimate slump.

Playing without LeBron James, the Lakers have fallen to the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-111. This is their 4th straight loss and they're now 1-5 since they won the In-Season Tournament.

All things considered, this game was fairly close, as playing against a squad with the league's best record is never an easy task, especially without your best offensive player. 

Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves were both terrific, with Davis putting up 31 points and Reaves adding 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. 

D'Angelo Russell struggled yet again, prompting Darvin Ham to comment on the team's starting lineup. The Ohio State product finished with 17 points but on woeful efficiency, along with terrible defense. 

Rui Hachimura and Taurean Prince did their jobs, which, alongside AD and Reaves producing, kept LA in the game. Without consistent shot creation and playmaking, however, they fell short. 

Here are some of LA's top plays and takeaways from the game: 

AD triple for 30 🎯

Minnesota leads by 7 midway through the 4Q.

📺 Lakers-Timberwolves | Live on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/WUmHBJEvWe

— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2023

Rui played great tonight (missed fts aside).

Right amount of energy, aggression, and physicality.

Lakers desperately need his infusion of athleticism and bully-ball physicality with Vando less than 100%.

Gonna suck when he’s back to only playing 15-18mins when LBJ’s back tho pic.twitter.com/3l1y4509vy

— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) December 22, 2023

This has been the Stretch from Hell for the Lakers-

But if there was One Silver Lining-

It would have to be Anthony Davis’ regaining his Jumper and his touch from the outside.

He’s hit a 3 in 4 out of his last 5 games.

& against Minny, he put up a Jump-Shooting Clinic. pic.twitter.com/fwF5tu4cXO

— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) December 22, 2023

AUSTIN REAVES IS COOKING pic.twitter.com/sq51VFYPUT

— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) December 22, 2023

Ever since Austin Reaves stopped trying to be Steve Nash and went back to straight attacking out of the PNR & looking for his own shot first (vs the right Point God read)-

He’s been rolling. And the passing has naturally opened up.

19 pts | 4.7 reb | 5 asts on 50/42/93 pic.twitter.com/WzGyih7nyY

— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) December 22, 2023

With a rough slate of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and and Minnesota Timberwolves, all in the next week, LA is in a tough spot to bounce back from their 15-14 record. Let's see if Ham's adjustments along with LeBron's return can make change happen.