SALT LAKE CITY — There’s an inherent challenge for teams in the situation the Lakers were in on Wednesday.
On the road, with the All-Star break and the rest that comes with it on the horizon and on everyone’s minds.
Playing the same team twice in a row, with the first matchup being a blowout victory in Los Angeles.
Coming off an emotional 10-day stretch that featured: acquiring superstar Luka Doncic and trading away star big man Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks; trading for Charlotte Hornets big man Mark Williams before rescinding that deal, with the players involved (Williams, Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish) returning to their respective teams; Doncic’s Lakers debut in Monday’s victory over the Jazz.
All of it coming amid a six-game winning streak that featured the Lakers having their best performances of the season.
So Wednesday’s 131-119 road loss to the Jazz at the Delta Center, and the lack of energy the Lakers played with, wasn’t entirely surprising – even against a Utah team that entered Wednesday having lost 12 of its previous 14 games.
“The spirit and all that stuff has been great,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “We were locked in. The more human nature element is playing the same team twice in a row and feeling like it might be easy because we just beat them and we’re 3-0 against them.
“Our preparation was there. Our guys’ preparation was there. Sometimes you just momentarily can lose sight of the things required to earn a victory. You give a team confidence, you let them be comfortable and this is what happens. That’s the NBA.”
The Lakers (32-20) played without forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Gabe Vincent – consistent energy-raisers – then lost starting center Jaxson Hayes early as their six-game winning streak was halted by the Jazz (13-40). Utah took advantage of the Lakers’ minimal rim protection to abuse them in the paint (outscoring them 54-36 there), but also outplayed them in the open court (outscoring them 26-13 in fast-break points) while the visitors missed nearly half of their free-throw attempts (17 of 30).
“I just didn’t feel like we were as connected on the defensive end,” guard Austin Reaves said. “We had a lot of blowing coverages. And then when shots don’t fall, you got to be really good on the defensive end. And we weren’t.”
Reaves didn’t use the Lakers’ last couple of weeks as an excuse.
“I just felt like we played like [expletive], to be honest,” he said. “I don’t want to say the tank was empty. Anytime you get the opportunity to go out there and play basketball you love that opportunity. Just didn’t play very good.”
But he also acknowledged the benefits of not playing for the next six days before coming out of the break with a home game against the Hornets on Feb. 19.
“Gonna give me some time to sit down and sleep, and just relax,” Reaves said. “At this point of the year, everybody’s a little fatigued mentally, physically. So it gives everybody an opportunity to reset and attack the last however many games there is.”
Doncic, playing in his second game with the Lakers, looked sharper offensively compared to Monday, finishing with 16 points (6-of-13 shooting), four assists, four rebounds in 23 minutes.
But he picked up his fifth foul around the 4-minute mark of the fourth, not returning to the game with the Lakers already down (92-71). Doncic also finished with five turnovers and missed four of his five free-throw attempts.
“Felt a little bit rusty two games in after my injury,” Doncic said. “Turnovers, missed free throws, so I gotta do way better. We are approaching this break and we gotta rest. For me, it’s more mental rest than anything else. But I still gotta work. So I’m excited about this break and I can’t wait to go back to play.”
LeBron James, who didn’t speak after the game, had 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Rui Hachimura added 19 points.
Reaves finished with 15 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, but shot 4 for 15 from the field on a night when the Jazz took advantage of the Lakers’ misses with all of those fast-break points.
The Jazz, who were led by Lauri Markkanen’s game-high 32 points, scored at least 31 points in each of the first three quarters, including 40 in the third.
After Utah led 64-56 at halftime, the Lakers kept the game close with shot-making from James, Reaves and Hachimura, with their deficit at just six points (75-69) midway through the third. But the Jazz went on a 16-2 run from there, punctuated by a Markkanen 3-pointer that gave Utah a 91-71 lead that turned into a 104-86 lead by the end of the quarter.
The Jazz led by at least 15 for most of the rest of the game until both team emptied their benches.
The Lakers beat the Jazz, 132-113, on Monday at Crypto.com Arena.
“It shouldn’t matter,” Reaves said. “You gotta be professionals. From the gate, we weren’t what we needed to be. We weren’t what we was the other night. And you let a team get like that – young, confident – start shooting the ball really well, they continue to do that and it’s hard to climb your way back in the game. We just got to be more professional and in our approach to those situations.”
Knecht scored 10 points off the bench in his first game since the trade for Williams was axed.
“It was a crazy time,” Knecht said. “Not too many people have done that, come back [after being traded]. But at the end of the day, I just wanted to hoop.
“I told that to JJ and [Lakers general manager] Rob [Pelinka] when I got back is that was the main thing. I want to go hoop. I want to go play. I was excited to come back here and play with my guys.”
Bronny James scored a career-high nine points in the fourth quarter.
Jordan Clarkson added 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as Utah ended its three-game losing streak. Keyonte George added 20 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds off the bench. Walker Kessler had 16 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots.