LOS ANGELES — After further review, the Lakers have not turned the corner on their season.

They canceled out an enthralling win over Boston by falling back to their frustrating ways in a 108-95 road loss Thursday to the severely depleted Memphis Grizzlies.


What You Need To Know

  • The Lakers lost to the Grizzlies, 108-95, in Memphis Thursday night

  • LA turned the ball over 22 times and only had seven total assists as a team

  • LeBron James had the 100th triple-double of his career, compiling 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds

  • Up next: The Lakers head to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder Friday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m.

The Lakers allowed way too many points to a team playing without two top scorers. They had a debilitating number of turnovers (22). Grizzlies center Steven Adams had more offensive rebounds (eight) than the entire Lakers team (seven).

Russell Westbrook’s ragged game wasn’t even one of the Lakers’ biggest concerns. They had many issues to discuss after falling to 13-13 in an ever-turbulent season.

“We didn’t rebound the basketball. We were slow to every loose ball,” Lakers Coach Frank Vogel said. “There was too much casualness to our approach after we got that early lead. It wasn’t even that big of a lead.”

Rising star Ja Morant didn’t play because of a knee injury, depriving Memphis of his 24.1 points and 6.8 assists a game. The Lakers also caught a break shortly before tip-off when Dillon Brooks was declared out because of the NBA’s COVID-19 health protocols. He averages 17.1 points a game.

Indeed, the Grizzlies went without 41 points of offense between their two young stars’ absences. It didn’t show.

The Lakers struggled to stop Memphis, allowing 59 points in the first half and trailing at the end of three quarters, 85-78.

The image emblazoned on the game was Jaren Jackson Jr. driving down the lane without any challenge for a thunderous dunk late in the second quarter. He finished with 25 points in 29 minutes.

LeBron James had the 100th triple-double of his career, compiling 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Only four other players in NBA history have reached the century mark in that category.

James also had five turnovers and went scoreless in the fourth quarter. Westbrook added six turnovers of his own and made only three shots while scoring nine points.

The Lakers’ 26 assists were practically erased by all their turnovers.

“We’re going to continue to have disappointing losses as long as we turn the ball over like that,” Vogel said.

Added James: “That’s been our Achilles’ heel…and tonight it bit us in the butt.”

The Lakers’ next game is Friday in Oklahoma City, a mixed bag for them. Good news: The Thunder lost to Memphis by a record-setting 73 points last week. Bad news: The Lakers are 0-2 against Oklahoma City this season, somehow blowing leads of 19 and 26 points in the respective losses.

“Games like Boston, we come out and play great,” Lakers forward Anthony Davis said. “We have to be a more consistent team if we truly want to compete for a championship.”

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