Grading Lakers Players vs. Hornets: LeBron And Doncic Combine For 40 In Disappointing Loss

LeBron James and Luka Doncic nearly willed the Los Angeles Lakers to victory, but the team faltered late in a stunning 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. James scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, but his last-second attempts to force overtime missed the mark. Doncic in his third game with the Lakers, contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, but Los Angeles struggled to execute down the stretch.

The Lakers appeared in control, leading 65-53 late in the third quarter before disaster struck. Austin Reaves was ejected following a brief exchange with referee Rodney Mott, and Charlotte immediately capitalized, ripping off a staggering 22-1 run. 

Los Angeles missed 10 consecutive shots in a brutal 6:39 stretch, allowing the Hornets to take command. Still, the Lakers had a chance late, with Doncic putting them back in front on a putback basket with 1:03 remaining. However, Nick Smith Jr. responded with a clutch go-ahead 3-pointer, and the Lakers’ woes continued as Rui Hachimura missed two crucial free throws.

Ball then stretched Charlotte’s lead with a finger-roll layup before James answered with a 3-pointer to keep hope alive. But after Ball calmly sank two free throws, James' desperation 3-point attempts at the buzzer missed, sealing the Lakers' second disappointing loss.  

The defeat snapped Los Angeles’ seven-game home winning streak and marked another frustrating night against one of the NBA’s worst teams. Let's provide a grade for every Lakers player. 

LeBron James: A-

Stats: 26 PTS, 7 REB (1 OREB, 6 DREB), 11 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 10-22 FG, 4-11 3PT, 2-2 FT, -4, 38 MIN

LeBron put on a late-game scoring clinic, pouring in 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to nearly will the Lakers to victory. He also facilitated well, dishing out 11 assists while limiting turnovers (just two). However, his 4-of-11 shooting from three, including two crucial misses in the final seconds, ultimately left the Lakers short. Despite the strong finish, James struggled to impose his will early, and his team’s inability to execute down the stretch marred what could have been another classic LeBron comeback.

Rui Hachimura: B

Stats: 17 PTS, 8 REB (2 OREB, 6 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 7-16 FG, 1-8 3PT, 2-4 FT, -1, 39 MIN

Hachimura was a steady offensive presence, scoring 17 points and pulling down eight rebounds, but his inefficiency from beyond the arc (1-of-8) and two crucial missed free throws in the final minute overshadowed his overall solid night. He found success inside, converting 6-of-8 from two-point range, but his shooting woes from deep and the charity stripe proved costly. Despite the misses, his hustle and rebounding helped keep the Lakers in the fight.

Luka Doncic: C+

Stats: 14 PTS, 11 REB (1 OREB, 10 DREB), 8 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 6 TO, 5 PF, 5-18 FG, 1-9 3PT, 3-4 FT, +13, 33 MIN

It was an uncharacteristically off night for Doncic, who shot just 5-of-18 from the field and 1-of-9 from three. Though he flirted with a triple-double (14 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists), his six turnovers and five fouls hurt the Lakers’ rhythm. He had a brief moment of redemption, putting L.A. back in front with a clutch putback in the final minute, but it wasn’t enough to erase an otherwise inefficient outing. The chemistry between him and his new teammates is still developing, and this game showed there’s work to be done.

Dorian Finney-Smith: C+

Stats: 12 PTS, 5 REB (4 OREB, 1 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 4-7 FG, 4-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +1, 28 MIN

Finney-Smith was a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating game for L.A., knocking down 4-of-6 from deep and providing valuable floor spacing. His ability to crash the offensive glass (four rebounds) created extra possessions, but his lack of defensive impact and limited playmaking left him as more of a complementary piece than a game-changer. While his efficiency was strong, he needed to do more to help defensively as the Hornets stormed back.

Gabe Vincent: C

Stats: 6 PTS, 3 REB (2 OREB, 1 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 2-7 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, -6, 20 MIN

Vincent provided some energy off the bench but struggled to make a meaningful impact. His two three-pointers were helpful, but he finished just 2-of-7 from the field, and his playmaking was minimal with only two assists. On defense, he had difficulty keeping up with Charlotte’s quicker guards, and his -6 plus/minus reflected his struggles on both ends. His role as a secondary ball handler remains inconsistent.

Jaxson Hayes: C

Stats: 8 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +12, 18 MIN

Hayes made the most of his limited opportunities, shooting an efficient 4-of-5 for eight points in 18 minutes. He showed good activity on defense with two steals, but his rebounding numbers (four total) were underwhelming for a big man. While his presence was felt in the paint, he wasn’t able to alter enough shots to be a true defensive anchor. Still, his energy helped keep the Lakers afloat during stretches.

Austin Reaves: C

Stats: 8 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 3 TO, 3 PF, 3-9 FG, 2-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, -5, 27 MIN

Reaves had a frustrating night, both in terms of his play and his early ejection. Before being tossed, he managed eight points, two rebounds, and two blocks, but his shooting struggles (3-of-9 from the field, 2-of-7 from three) and three turnovers hurt the Lakers' momentum. His absence proved costly, as the team completely collapsed after his exit. While his defensive effort was solid, his decision-making needs improvement.

Dalton Knecht: C

Stats: 3 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 1-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, -16, 13 MIN

Knecht found himself in a tough spot, playing only 13 minutes and struggling to find his shot. His lone three-pointer was his only field goal, and he shot just 1-of-5 overall. While he contributed on the glass with five rebounds, his -16 plus/minus showed his struggles in keeping up defensively. 

Jarred Vanderbilt: C

Stats: 3 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, -17, 13 MIN

Vanderbilt had a quiet night, finishing with just three points and four rebounds in 13 minutes. He was efficient with his limited shot attempts (1-of-1 from the field), but his two turnovers and -17 plus/minus showed his struggles in making a real impact. 

Alex Len: D

Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +8, 10 MIN

Len had a forgettable 10-minute stint, failing to score or make any significant contributions. He grabbed just one rebound and finished with a +8 plus/minus, mostly benefiting from being on the court during a solid stretch. His lack of involvement on offense and minimal defensive presence made his minutes feel like a placeholder.