Lakers 'all hate losing' but Davis warns 'there's no cavalry'
Patric Ridge
December 21, 2023 17:58 MYT
December 21, 2023 17:58 MYT
Anthony Davis knows there is "no help coming" for the Los Angeles Lakers, who must find a way to overturn their poor form.
The Lakers have won just one of their five games since they beat the Indiana Pacers to claim the inaugural NBA in-season tournament trophy in Las Vegas earlier this month.
Their latest defeat came on Wednesday at the hands of the Chicago Bulls, with DeMar DeRozan leading his team to a 124-108 triumph.
LeBron James had 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, but it was not enough as the Lakers slumped to a third straight loss.
"We all hate losing," said Davis, who finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
"There's no break coming. No help coming. There's no cavalry. We've got to do it within this locker room.
"We've got everyone back now. We've just got to find a way to get in the win column."
Without injured All-Star Zach LaVine, it was another accomplished display from the Bulls, who had a poor start to the campaign but are now hitting form.
DeMar was CLINICAL against LA. 27 points | 12-16 FG | 7 reb | 9 ast pic.twitter.com/lvpvIAK98Z — Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 21, 2023
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"We were going through it," said DeRozan, who scored 27 points, adding seven rebounds and nine assists.
"Sometimes you've got to go through it so you can find a different type of motivation that you can come together with. The best relationships come out of that."
The Bulls are 7-3 in LaVine's absence due to right foot inflammation, though coach Billy Donovan still wants his talisman back healthy as soon as possible.
"Anytime you lose a really, really great player, and a talented, gifted player like Zach, it always hurts you. I'm certainly hopeful when he gets himself healthy he can get back to where he was," he said.
"I think with what he was dealing with his foot for a long period of time, I'm not so sure that he was ever right."
While the Lakers endure a skid, their city rivals the Los Angeles Clippers maintained their league-best form.
why was six afraid of seven? cause seven, eight, NINE pic.twitter.com/YBMq80ICbN — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 21, 2023
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The Clippers extended their winning run to nine games as Kawhi Leonard's 30 points lifted them to a 120-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Luka Doncic recorded his sixth triple-double of the season but it was not enough for the Mavs, who fell foul of another fine Clippers display.
"It's going to take time for them to find the rhythm, find the continuity, find the chemistry," said Norman Powell, who scored 21 points off the Clippers' bench.
"It's no summer league, summertime pickup basketball where you're doing whatever you want.
"There's a system in place, and everybody's got to figure out their role and how it goes."
#Chicago Bulls
#LeBron James
#Dallas Mavericks
#Los Angeles Lakers
#Kawhi Leonard
#Los Angeles Clippers
#basketball
#Anthony Davis
#Luka Doncic
#NBA (USA)