SALT LAKE CITY — There’s an inherent challenge for teams in the situation the Lakers were in on Wednesday.
On the road, with the All-Star break and the rest that comes with it on the horizon and on everyone’s minds.
Playing the same team twice in a row, with the first matchup being a blowout victory in Los Angeles.
Coming off an emotional 10-day stretch that featured: acquiring superstar Luka Doncic and trading away star big man Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks; trading for Charlotte Hornets big man Mark Williams before rescinding that deal, with the players involved (Williams, Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish) going back to their respective teams; Doncic’s Lakers debut in Monday’s victory over the Jazz.
All of it coming amid a six-game winning streak that featured the Lakers having their best performances of the season.
So Wednesday’s 131-119 road loss to the Jazz at the Delta Center, and the lack of energy the Lakers played with, wasn’t entirely surprising – even against a Utah team that entered Wednesday having lost 12 of its previous 14 games.
The Lakers (32-20) played without forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Gabe Vincent – consistent energy-raisers – then lost starting center Jaxson Hayes early as their six-game winning streak was halted with an ugly loss to the Jazz (13-40). Utah took advantage of the Lakers’ minimal rim protection to abuse them in the paint (outscoring them 54-36 there), but also outplayed them in the open court (outscoring them 26-13 in fast-break points) while the visitors missed nearly half of their 30 free-throw attempts.
Doncic, playing in his second game with the Lakers, looked sharper offensively compared to Monday, finishing with 16 points (6-of-13 shooting), four assists, four rebounds and five turnovers in 23 minutes. But he picked up his fifth foul around the 4-minute mark of the fourth, not returning to the game with the Lakers already down (92-71).
LeBron James had 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Rui Hachimura added 19 points.
Austin Reaves finished with 15 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, but shot 4 for 15 from the field on a night when the Jazz took advantage of the Lakers’ misses with all of those fast-break points.
The Jazz, who were led by Lauri Markkanen’s game-high 32 points, scored at least 31 points in each of the first three quarters, including 40 in the third.
After Utah led 64-56 at halftime, the Lakers kept the game close with shot-making from James, Reaves and Hachimura, with their deficit at just six points (75-69) midway through the third. But the Jazz went on a 16-2 run from there, punctuated by a Markkanen 3-pointer that gave Utah a 91-71 lead.
The Jazz led by at least 15 for most of the rest of the game until both team emptied their benches.
Knecht scored 10 points off the bench in his first game since the trade for Williams was axed.
Bronny James scored a career-high nine points in the fourth quarter.
Jordan Clarkson added 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as Utah ended its three-game losing streak. Keyonte George added 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds off the bench. Walker Kessler had 16 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots.
More to come on this story.