The Lakers began a four-game road trip with a rematch against the Orlando Magic after a stunning overtime triumph over the L.A. Clippers.
This time, the Magic beat the Lakers 120-101 to ruin their road trip opener.
Los Angeles took an early 7-4 lead over Orlando as LeBron James scored five points. Anthony Davis stopped the Magic’s 9-0 run led by Franz Wagner and knotted the game at 20.
Orlando’s 13-0 run made it 33-20. A 3-pointer by Christian Wood ended the run, but Los Angeles trailed 39-25 after one quarter.
Lakers began second with 10-2 run with James returning on the floor to trim Magic lead. Orlando regained control as Los Angeles struggled to handle the basketball.
The Magic embarked on another run after James left to lead by 16 points. Orlando trailed 67-51 at halftime because L.A. failed to get defensive boards, allowing second-chance points. The Magic got 26 first-half second-chance points to the Lakers’ seven.
Paolo Banchero and Wagner kept pressing Los Angeles’ defense, but the Lakers sought to score in the paint to get back in. Although in foul trouble, Davis rallied L.A. from double digits behind.
The Magic kept control no matter how many times the Lakers threatened to turn the game around. Los Angeles missed many easy baskets and headed into the fourth quarter down 101-80.
In the fourth, Darvin Ham started with his regulars to try to rally, but Orlando was too strong defensively. James made difficult buckets to help the Laker offense make one more run and cut the deficit to 15.
LA competed on both ends to put pressure on Orlando and stayed within striking distance. Ham turned to his bench and conceded defeat after Cole Anthony’s 3-pointer stopped their run.