The Lakers didn't need this.
With rumours swirling in recent days about coach Luke Walton's job security, the Lakers came out flat at home against the Raptors on Sunday and never recovered en route to a 121-107 loss.
To make matters worse, the Lakers (4-6) caught the Raptors a man down, so to speak, with Toronto forward Kawhi Leonard unexpectedly missing the game due to a sore ankle.
It didn't matter. The Raptors (9-1) came out hot and led the Lakers by 31 at one point in the first quarter. According to ESPN , it is the first home team in the past 20 seasons to trail by 30 or more points in the first quarter.
Serge Ibaka stood out for Toronto in Leonard's absence, scoring 26 in the first half and finishing with 34 points on 15-of-17 shooting.
Lakers president Magic Johnson met with Walton last Tuesday about the team's slow start, but Johnson told the Los Angeles Times the discussion had nothing to do with Walton’s job security and he’ll finish the season as the team's coach "unless something drastic happens, which it won't."
Yet expectations in Los Angeles are exceedingly high this season with LeBron James on board. James had a so-so game — by his standards anyway — with 18 points in 28 minutes. But even if James were knocking down triple-doubles every night, he needs help, and the team needs to find its lineup chemistry.
STUDS OF THE NIGHT
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists in a win over the Kings.
Aaron Gordon scored 26 and added eight rebounds in the Magic's victory over the Spurs.
DUDS OF THE NIGHT
The 76ers had 27 turnovers in a 122-97 loss to the Nets. To put that in perspective, Philadelphia led the NBA in turnovers last season with 16.3 per game.
HIGHLIGHTS
Devin Booker calmly knocks down the game winner for the Suns against the Grizzlies. He finished with 25 points.
Timberwolves rookie Josh Okogie absolutely posterizes Jusuf Nurkic on this dunk.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Celtics (6-3) at Nuggets (8-1), 9 p.m. ET — The Nuggets is out to an incredible start that has included some quality wins, including one over the Warriors. They'll have their hands full with the Celtics. Boston is looking to get back on track after seeing its four-game winning streak snapped by Indiana in a last-second loss to the Pacers Saturday night.
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