Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a disappointing loss at the hands of the Houston Rockets on Monday night, falling by the score of 135-119.
LeBron James finished with a double-double, scoring 23 points and racking up 10 assists compared to only one turnover. He shot 2-5 from behind the arc, but just 3-8 on free throws.
The Lakers struggled defensively, as the Rockets shot 53 percent from the field and dished out 36 assists. Los Angeles has now allowed at least 110 points in seven consecutive games.
NBA fans called out the team’s poor performance.
Lakers Nation @LakersNation
Hey Lakers you wanna play some defense?
Lakers: pic.twitter.com/yUfdcRQgoI
Trevor Lane @Trevor_Lane
Over 8 minutes to play in the 2nd and the Lakers have given the Rockets 56 points. Not ideal
Trevor Lane @Trevor_Lane
Lakers down 18 at the half in a game they don’t look very interested in so far.
Anthony F. Irwin @AnthonyIrwinLA
Every time the Lakers make anything even remotely resembling progress, they find some new, exciting way to disappoint. It’s been the only consistent aspect of this season.
Raquel 🫶🏾 @SOULbeautifulme
This is the type of game where we see AD’s value … our defense looks horrible because AD can’t move quickly to help on switches & he is barely jumping
Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers’ defense is getting shredded by the young, talented Rockets. LAL trails 78-60 at the half, with Dillon Brooks hitting back-to-back jumpers to end the 2nd Q after the Lakers had cut a 21-point deficit to 13
Lakers Daily @LakersDailyCom
Lakers give up a season-high 78 points in the 1st half
Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻💻 @SGVNSports
The Lakers Darvin Ham defense gives up a 42 point quarter.
Again, remember, this guy was hired for his defense.
Sean Davis @Sean_Davi
Five out of the Lakers last Six games the Lakers have allowed at least 126 points. Absolutely pathetic
Harrison Faigen @hmfaigen
If the Lakers would have played this hard on D to start the game, they may not be in this position
For the Rockets, Dillon Brooks continued his feud with James that stemmed from Los Angeles’ first-round victory over Brooks and the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023.
The 28-year-old called James “old” and said that he doesn’t “respect anyone until they come and give me 40” during the series, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Brooks finished with 17 points on 7-12 shooting, including a three-pointer to beat the first-half buzzer.
NBA @NBA
Dillon Brooks beats the 2Q buzzer to cap off a team season-high in points scored in a half!
Lakers-Rockets | Live on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/d8rYkIjszt pic.twitter.com/E1VnHziMXS
He also picked up a flagrant foul on James in the second half, although he was able to stay in the game without recording a second one.
Brooks also had a brief altercation with Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, leading to Vanderbilt’s ejection.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Jarred Vanderbilt was ejected after getting into it with Dillon Brooks pic.twitter.com/EsciY2A7rI
The Lakers fell to 24-24 after the loss and have not been at least two games over .500 since Dec. 28.
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