It happened again. If you were looking for the last night lakers score hoping for a bounce-back win at Crypto.com Arena, the reality is pretty grim. The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just lose; they were dismantled 135-117 by a Charlotte Hornets team that, frankly, had no business hanging 135 on a supposed contender.
The vibes are off. Honestly, "off" might be an understatement. When you have LeBron James and Luka Doncic on the same floor—yes, the 2026 Lakers roster is a surreal fever dream of talent—you expect a certain level of defensive resistance. Instead, the Hornets, led by a scorching LaMelo Ball, treated the Lakers' transition defense like a light Sunday morning jog.
Breaking Down the Last Night Lakers Score
The final tally of 135-117 tells a story of a team that has forgotten how to guard the perimeter. Charlotte entered the game as a team that had lost seven straight. They walked out looking like the '17 Warriors.
The Lakers surrendered 105 points in the final three quarters alone. Think about that for a second. That is an average of 35 points per quarter allowed after the opening frame. You can't win in this league giving up those kinds of numbers, even with Luka putting up his usual video game stats.
- Final Score: Charlotte Hornets 135, Los Angeles Lakers 117
- Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
- Key Stat: The Hornets outrebounded the Lakers by 15.
- The Problem: 56 points allowed in the paint to a smaller Charlotte lineup.
LeBron James, now 41 and still somehow playing 33+ minutes a night, finished with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. On paper? Elite. In reality? Most of those buckets felt like they were coming while the ship was already halfway underwater. Luka Doncic matched him with 30 points and 10 assists, but the body language from the Slovenian superstar was... concerning. There were a lot of hands on hips. A lot of staring at the rafters after missed rotations.
What Happened to the Defense?
The most frustrating part of the last night lakers score isn't the offense. Scoring 117 points is usually enough to stay competitive. The issue is the defensive identity—or lack thereof—under JJ Redick.
Currently, the Lakers are sitting at 24-15. That’s 6th in the West. It sounds okay until you look at the defensive rating, which has plummeted to 26th in the league. They are essentially a "we'll outscore you" team that can't actually outscore anyone when the other team hits twenty 3-pointers. That’s exactly what Charlotte did. Twenty.
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The Hornets shot the lights out, sure, but the Lakers' closeouts were lazy. It felt like they were playing in sand. When you've got Deandre Ayton anchoring the middle, you expect more than 35 defensive rebounds. Charlotte just wanted the ball more. They had 15 more boards than LA. That is purely a "want it" stat.
The Luka and LeBron Experiment: Is the Ceiling Lower Than We Thought?
When Rob Pelinka pulled off the miracle to get Luka Doncic in a Lakers jersey, the league trembled. A duo of the greatest floor general of all time and the greatest young playmaker of this generation seemed like a cheat code.
But basketball isn't played on a spreadsheet.
Last night showed the cracks. Both players need the ball. Both players, at this stage in their respective careers (LeBron’s age and Luka’s... let’s call it "deliberate" defensive pace), require a high-level defensive infrastructure around them. Marcus Smart was brought in to be that glue guy, but even he can't cover four spots at once.
Smart had 13 points and 4 assists last night, but he looked exhausted by the third quarter trying to navigate screens that his teammates weren't communicating through. It's kinda wild to see a team with this much IQ look so lost on simple pick-and-roll coverages.
The Hornets' Dominance by the Numbers
LaMelo Ball didn't just play well; he conducted a clinic. He finished with 30 points and 9 triples. Every time the Lakers tried to make a mini-run in the fourth, LaMelo would pull up from 30 feet and splash one.
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The Lakers' bench was also a non-factor. Aside from a few sparks from Jarred Vanderbilt, who played nearly 30 minutes off the wire, the depth just wasn't there. Austin Reaves, usually the secondary engine, had a quiet night by his 2026 standards, and the lack of a true backup rim protector behind Ayton was glaring. When Ayton sat, the paint turned into a layup line for Charlotte’s guards.
Why This Specific Loss Matters for the Standings
The Western Conference in 2026 is a meat grinder. The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently 35-7, essentially lapping the field. Behind them, the Spurs (led by a terrifyingly prime Victor Wembanyama) and the Nuggets are locked in a battle for the 2-seed.
The Lakers' loss drops them further into that 5-8 seed swamp.
- Thunder: 35-7
- Spurs: 28-13
- Nuggets: 28-13
- Timberwolves: 27-14
- Rockets: 24-15
- Lakers: 24-15
They are now tied with the Rockets for the 5th spot, and the Suns are breathing down their necks at 24-17. Losing home games to sub-.500 teams like Charlotte is how you end up in the Play-In tournament. And nobody—not even LeBron with a 41-year-old's wisdom—wants a one-game-take-all scenario against a young, hungry team like Portland or Memphis.
The Coaching Challenge for JJ Redick
JJ Redick is in a tough spot. He’s a brilliant tactical mind, but he’s trying to coach a team that is fundamentally "old" in NBA years at the top of the roster. The Lakers' pace is 21st in the league. They want to play half-court, deliberate basketball.
The problem? The rest of the league wants to run. Charlotte ran. They had 22 fast-break points compared to the Lakers' 9. You can see JJ’s frustration in the post-game pressers. He keeps talking about "engagement" and "multiple efforts," but it’s hard to get multiple efforts out of a roster that might be hitting the mid-season wall.
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What’s Next for the LakeShow?
There is no time to sulk. The Lakers have a quick turnaround as they head to Portland to face the Trail Blazers on Saturday, January 17th.
Portland isn't a powerhouse, but they play fast. If the Lakers show up with the same defensive lethargy they displayed against the Hornets, they’ll be looking at a three-game losing streak and a lot of uncomfortable conversations in the locker room.
Actionable Steps for the Lakers to Turn it Around
If this team wants to be more than a second-round exit, things have to change.
- Tighten the Rotation: Redick needs to decide if the two-way guys like Nick Smith Jr. or Chris Mañon can actually give them defensive minutes, or if he needs to ride his vets even harder.
- Prioritize the Paint: Deandre Ayton has to be more than a double-double machine; he has to be a deterrent. 56 points in the paint is unacceptable for a team with his size.
- Luka's Defensive Buy-in: It’s a hard conversation, but Doncic has to find another gear on the defensive end. He’s the engine of the offense, but he can’t be a liability on the other side when the game is on the line.
- Manage LeBron's Minutes: At 33 minutes a game, the Lakers are red-lining the King. They might need to sacrifice a few regular-season wins to ensure he has legs for April and May.
The last night lakers score was a punch in the mouth. Sometimes, that's exactly what a veteran-heavy team needs to stop sleepwalking through the January schedule. Whether they wake up or stay in the fog will determine if the 2025-26 season is a historic success or a colossal disappointment.
Lakers fans should keep a close eye on the injury report for the Portland game. If Rui Hachimura or Gabe Vincent return to the lineup, it might provide the defensive spark the second unit so desperately needs. For now, the focus is purely on effort. Talent is there—effort is optional, and last night, the Lakers chose not to exercise that option.
Watch the standings closely over the next week. With a dense schedule, the Lakers could easily jump back into the top four or slide into the play-in spots. The margin for error has officially evaporated.