NBA news: ‘We're all embarrassed’ - LA Lakers hit rock bottom in Miami blowout
The Los Angeles Lakers' struggles reached a new low on Wednesday night as they suffered a humiliating 134-93 defeat to the Miami Heat.
For LeBron James, the game marked a return to his old stomping grounds in Miami, where he won two championships during his tenure with the Heat.
However, the homecoming was anything but celebratory for James, as his team endured one of their most lopsided losses in recent memory, writes Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo.
Commanding victory
The game was never competitive, with the Heat dominating from the outset.
Miami took a double-digit lead early in the first quarter, led by 17 at half-time, and finished with a commanding 41-point victory.
It marked the Lakers' most significant defeat of the season and highlighted deeper issues within the team.
LeBron James, who led the Lakers with 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting, was one of the few bright spots for Los Angeles.
He also ended a four-game streak without a three-pointer, hitting one from beyond the arc to move into seventh place on the NBA's all-time three-pointers list.
Despite his efficient scoring and historical milestone, James was visibly frustrated after the game.
“If you don’t want to come to compete, that’s other issues,” he said, acknowledging the team’s lack of communication and effort.
"I agree 100%, 1000%," James added in support of head coach JJ Redick’s post-game comments.
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Lack of fight and professionalism
Lakers head coach JJ Redick didn’t mince words, expressing his disappointment in the team's lack of fight and professionalism.
"I'm embarrassed, we're all embarrassed," Redick said. "This is my team, and I lead it. I own this, but there has to be some ownership on the court. We’re not together right now."
His sentiment was echoed by franchise legend Magic Johnson, who posted on social media: "I'm embarrassed for the Lakers."
Former Lakers great James Worthy also criticised the team’s performance, emphasising the need for a complete revaluation of their approach.
Miami's Tyler Herro stole the show, scoring 31 points, including an explosive 21-point third quarter in which he drained seven three-pointers.
Lacklustre defensive efforts
The Heat tied their franchise record with 24 made threes, exploiting the Lakers’ lacklustre defensive efforts.
"We came into this game with great energy, and you see what happened," Heat centre Bam Adebayo said.
The Lakers' recent form has been abysmal, with the team losing four of their last six games by margins of 25 points or more.
A recurring pattern of poor starts and second-half collapses has left them scrambling for answers.
In their last four third quarters alone, they’ve been outscored by 59 points.
Injuries to key role players and declining production from Anthony Davis, who started the season in MVP form but has recently struggled, have only exacerbated their woes.
As the Lakers prepare to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Redick and James hope their candid remarks will ignite a spark.
But with a tough schedule ahead in the competitive Western Conference, the Lakers will need more than words to reverse their fortunes.
For now, their season is teetering on the edge, and the question remains: Can they rediscover the identity of a team capable of contending, or is this who the Lakers truly are?
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