Lakers Struggle Against Magic in 114-105 Loss

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It’s simple: the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans are tired of losing.

The month of January is one to forget as the Lakers have won only 3 of their last 12 games. The latest loss comes at the hands of the Orlando Magic, who defeated the Lakers 114-105 Friday night.

The Magic hold one of the worst records in the NBA, but managed to shoot 48.1% from the field and 52.9% from behind the arc.

“When you lose to the worst teams in the league, you have to ask yourself why? What does that make you?,” said Lakers Pau Gasol.

Gasol finished the night collecting 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. This is Gasol’s third game of scoring 20+ points and 10+ rebounds; it is also the Lakers third straight loss.

The Lakers defense took a hiatus once again, which allowed four Magic starters to end in double figures; three players scored more than 20 points. The Lakers were also outrebounded, 51-40, thanks to a big game by Magic’s Tobias Harris.

Harris led all-scorers with 28 points and 20 rebounds, while Victor Oladipo added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Harris becomes the 20th player to go for a season-high against the Lakers this year.

“Now every team in the league knows the Lakers are not very good defensively to say the least,” said Gasol.

Frustration has undoubtedly set in for the Lakers who have gone 2-4 on their Grammy Road Trip. Nick Young was served a technical foul earlier in the game. Young missed a layup, thought he got fouled and then slammed the ball hard when he didn’t get the call.

Young finished with 16 points and was one of five Lakers to finish in double figures.

The Lakers will wrap up their road trip in New York versus the Knicks on Sunday. The Knicks are coming off a huge win, where Carmelo Anthony set a franchise record at Madison Square Garden.

Anthony scored 62 points, which also broke Madison Square Garden’s scoring record previously held by Lakers Kobe Bryant. Bryant scored 61 points in a single-game back in 2009, and was the only active player to have scored 60+ points in a game.

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