Kobe Bryant sat out Friday night's game against the Utah Jazz, and the Lakers sans no. 24 showed exactly how poorly they can play.
With the starting backcourt on the shelf, the Lakers lost 94-85 to the fifth-worst team in the NBA. Overall, the Lakers have lost four games in a row and six of their last seven. Halfway through the season, the Lakers have 12 wins and 29 losses.
As a team, the Lakers finished with only seven assists and committed 21 turnovers. Worth remembering, Bryant notched 17 assists on his own in Thursday night's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Not only Bryant, the Lakers also played without starting point guard Ronnie Price on Friday, as Price could not shake off a sore right elbow.
One of the few bright spots in the loss proved to be the reemergence of Nick Young as an offensive weapon, rather than a liability. Breaking his shooting slump, Young finished with 23 points, which was his second highest tally of the season. In particular, the 29-year-old forced his way to the free throw line and converted all 13 of his foul shots against the Jazz.
The foul line is a special spot for the Lakers' sixth man, and Young currently ranks second in the NBA with 92.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Following the loss, the Lakers boarded a flight back to Los Angeles and slept in their respective homes. Lakers coach Byron Scott gave his team Saturday off following a back-to-back, but the team will practice on Sunday before boarding a flight to Phoenix.
The Lakers' official game notes listed both Bryant and Price as "doubtful" for Monday's game in Phoenix, but Sunday's practice should provide more of a gauge on where both Bryant and Price stand.
The upcoming schedule calls for the Lakers to play in Phoenix on Monday before traveling to New Orleans to face the Pelicans on Wednesday. LA will end its four-game road trip with a showdown in San Antonio on Friday.
Upon returning to LA, the Lakers will host Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets on Sunday, Jan. 25.
