With LeBron James and Anthony Davis both out due to injuries, Russell Westbrook was the only member of the Lakers’ Big 3 available against the Hornets.
The 33-year-old point guard led Los Angeles in scoring with 35 points, 30 of which came in the second half. At the end of the fourth quarter Russ missed a game-winning three-pointer and the Lakers lost, 114-117.
The Lakers were down by 2 points with 9.6 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter. The ball was in the hands of Westbrook who dribbled at the three-point line and took a shot and missed it.
According to Lakers head coach Frank Vogel, it was a good shot which was taken the guy who was the hottest in the gym. “We had an opportunity for him to get to his left hand,” he said postgame.
“Stanley rolling to the basket, Melo as a shooter behind the play, they switched out and at that point hottest guy in the gym has the ball in his hands, ready to make a play.
“I had no problem with the shot he took. He’s 3/6 from the three in the second half and went for the win. He knocks that down we’re talking about one hell of a win. But it just didn’t go in for us.
“Russ was spectacular in that second half. 30 points and just really willed our team into an opportunity to steal one on the road.”
