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Los Angeles Lakers end losing streak, but challenges still exist

By Donny McHenry

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 19: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on in the first half of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 110-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 19: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on in the first half of a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won 110-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers were able to snap their losing. However, challenges still loom for Los Angeles.

On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers ended their four-game losing streak by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 100-93 on the second to last game of their road trip. It was a relief for the team to get the win considering the losing streak, but it wasn’t a win to be super proud of.

The Grizzlies are currently in the middle of an all-out tank, putting on one of the most impressive tanking performances in recent history on Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets. The Lakers should be happy they aren’t on a losing streak anymore, but they still leave the game facing many challenges for the next game and for the rest of the season.

Injuries Get Worse

On Saturday night the Lakers only played 8 players against the Memphis Grizzlies. Three of the starters played 40+ minutes in the game (Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) while the other two played for 38 (Julius Randle) and 35 (Brook Lopez) minutes. This was due to the injuries that have piled up for the Lakers as of late.

Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart missed their 11th and 12th games, respectively. To add to the trouble, Isaiah Thomas missed the game due to a sore hip and will miss the last game of the road trip on Monday against the Detroit Pistons. Channing Frye was available, but Luke Walton doesn’t want to play him following his appendectomy. For the cherry on top of the injury sundae, Luol Deng sprained his ankle and wasn’t available for the Saturday game. That doesn’t matter much, as Deng has been available all year and hasn’t played since opening night. Either way, it still impacts the Lakers lack of depth given all the injuries I’ve mentioned.

Brandon Ingram could be back for the Lakers for their first game back home on Wednesday while Josh Hart is eyeing a return on Friday, March 30th. The Isaiah Thomas injury is concerning, given the point guard’s history with his hip. His hip injury that affected him during the playoff run last year with the Celtics and kept him out of the first half of the season with the Cavs is definitely the cause for the soreness. It’s unclear if the soreness is serious and will keep him out past Monday’s game against the Pistons, but it’s definitely something to monitor for the rest of the season.

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