Injuries sabotaged the season, with L.A.’s new-look Big Three of LeBron James, Davis and Russell Westbrook combining to play just 21 games together through Tuesday
Injuries played a factor again Tuesday, with James sitting out for the fourth time in the past five games because of soreness in his left ankle. It was his 23rd missed game of the season.
Joining James on the visitors’ bench at Footprint Center in street clothes was Kendrick Nunn, missing his 79th game of the season because of a bone bruise in his right knee yet, curiously, still not simply ruled out for the season by the Lakers.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, hasn’t won consecutive games since early January, when it beat Sacramento and Atlanta at home.
The loss unofficially starts an offseason that is full of questions marks for the Lakers.
Will Vogel keep his job? Is there a shakeup in store for the front office? Can the Lakers find a trade partner for Westbrook and cut their losses?
Will James, entering the final year of his deal, sign a contract extension to keep him in L.A. beyond his 20th season in the league? (ESPN)
