If you were expecting a routine win for the purple and gold on January 15, 2026, you weren't alone. Most of the crowd at Crypto.com Arena showed up thinking the Los Angeles Lakers vs Charlotte Hornets matchup would be a standard "get right" game.
The Lakers were sitting at a respectable 24-14 record. The Hornets? They were struggling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 14-26. On paper, it was a mismatch. In reality, it was a defensive collapse that left the L.A. faithful heading for the exits way before the final buzzer.
The Scoreboard Doesn't Lie
Charlotte didn't just win; they embarrassed the Lakers on their own floor. The final score was 135-117. Honestly, the 18-point gap makes it look closer than it actually felt during that brutal second half.
LaMelo Ball, who many feared might miss the game with his recent injury woes, didn't just play—he dominated. He hit 9 three-pointers. Every time the Lakers tried to string together a run, LaMelo would pull up from the logo and suck the energy right out of the building. It’s kinda wild how one guy can make a defense featuring veteran stars look so disorganized.
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Why the Lakers Defense Folded
Lately, the Lakers' defensive rating has been hovering around 26th in the league. That’s bottom-tier. Against Charlotte, those cracks became craters. JJ Redick’s rotation seemed a step slow, and the perimeter defense was basically non-existent.
- Poor Closeouts: The Hornets shot over 50% from deep because L.A. kept sagging off to protect the paint.
- Transition Woes: Charlotte pushed the pace after every miss, and the Lakers' older legs couldn't keep up.
- Lack of Interior Grit: Even with Deandre Ayton and Anthony Davis (who has been navigating the injury report all month) in the mix, Brandon Miller found lanes to the rim way too easily.
The Luka and LeBron Dynamic
One of the weirdest things about this 2025-26 season is seeing Luka Dončić and LeBron James sharing the floor. It’s a basketball nerd’s dream, but it hasn't translated into defensive synergy yet. Luka leads the league in scoring at 33.6 points per game, but his defensive effort on Thursday was... let's just say "conservative."
Luka did his part on offense, returning in the fourth quarter after a brief scare with a back issue to try and spark a comeback. But even with LeBron James putting up steady numbers at age 41, the team lacks the "stop-and-score" mentality that defined their better stretches in December.
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LeBron is currently averaging about 19.5 points and 5.6 assists. He’s playing a more balanced, facilitating role, which is smart given his age. But when the team is down 15 and the Hornets are hitting everything, the Lakers still look to him to be the superhero. That’s a lot to ask of anyone in their 23rd season.
The Missing Pieces
It’s worth noting the Lakers weren't at full strength. Austin Reaves is still sidelined with a Grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain. He's been out for nearly two weeks, and his absence is glaring. Reaves is the "glue guy" who usually handles the secondary playmaking and pesters opposing guards. Without him, the Lakers' backcourt is a revolving door.
Adou Thiero is also out with an MCL sprain. While he's a rookie, his energy and rebounding were sorely missed during the Hornets' 12-2 run in the third quarter.
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Looking Forward: Can They Pivot?
The Lakers are currently 5th in the Western Conference, but the gap between them and the 10th-place Memphis Grizzlies is shrinking fast. They have a tough road trip coming up, starting with a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, January 17.
The Blazers are actually 2.5-point favorites for that game. Think about that for a second. A 24-15 Lakers team with Luka and LeBron is an underdog to a sub-.500 Portland squad. That tells you everything you need to know about how Vegas and the betting public view this team's current form.
If the Lakers want to avoid a total mid-season slide, they have to fix their defensive communication. It’s not about talent; it’s about effort. They’re giving up 116.9 points per game, which just isn't sustainable for a team with title aspirations.
Immediate Next Steps for the Lakers
- Prioritize the Perimeter: They have to stop over-helping in the paint. Modern NBA offenses like Charlotte's will kill you from the corners every single time.
- Manage Minutes: LeBron and Luka are playing heavy minutes. With a back-to-back coming up (Toronto on Sunday), Redick needs to trust his bench more, even if they're inexperienced.
- Ramp Up the Intensity: The "Mamba Mentality" quotes in the locker room need to turn into actual floor burns and contested shots.
The loss to Charlotte was a wake-up call. Whether the team actually wakes up or just hits the snooze button before the Denver game on Tuesday remains to be seen. Keep an eye on the injury report for the Portland game—if Anthony Davis or Luka is a late scratch, the Lakers might find themselves in a deeper hole by Sunday morning.
Watch the defensive rotations in the first quarter against Portland. If they’re still trailing shooters and looking at each other after blown assignments, it's going to be a long flight back to Los Angeles.