The Los Angeles Lakers faced a tough evening against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, falling 127-100 in Arizona. Despite a close first half, the Lakers' poor third quarter proved costly.
Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA champion, has some words about the superstar. He believes that his horrible defense should be blamed for the recent loss.
Kendrick Perkins Criticized LeBron's Effort After Bowing Down to Suns
(Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
Sports Illustrated spotted Perkin's tweet about the Lakers' disappointing beatdown against the Phoenix Suns. According to the report, the basketball player-turned-media personality believed that LeBron should be accountable for the loss because of his "horrible" defense.
"Bron was horrible tonight defensively and his body language was unacceptable," the 2008 Boston Celtics champ said on X.
"The Suns look like a lottery team without KD but with KD... they definitely look like legit Title Contenders!," he added.
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LeBron James' Solid Effort Amid a Tough Night
LeBron James led the Lakers with a near triple-double, posting 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists. He shot 7/16 from the field and went 2/7 from beyond the arc during his 35 minutes on the court.
While James had a challenging outing, his overall season performance continues to defy his age.
At nearly 40 years old, James is averaging 23.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game, shooting an impressive 50.7% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range.
Lakers' Third-Quarter Collapse
After heading into halftime with just a two-point deficit, the Lakers were dominated in the third quarter, where they were outscored 36-18. This performance sealed their fate and extended their current losing streak to three games.
ESPN reports that the Lakers now hold a 10-7 record, sitting sixth in the Western Conference standings. On the road, they've struggled with a 3-5 record, highlighting their inconsistency against tough opponents.
Lakers' Record Against Winning and Losing Teams
According to recent stats shared by Underdog NBA, the Lakers have struggled against strong competition:
- Record against teams with winning records: 3-6
- Record against teams with losing records: 7-1
Upcoming Challenges for the Lakers
The Lakers have little time to regroup as they face the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. This matchup will see them take on Chris Paul's squad, offering a chance to rebound from their recent struggles.
Despite the Suns' dominance in this game, LeBron James hopes that the Lakers will have a strong bounce-back performance for the next few games.
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