Lakers 'can't catch a break' but must 'keep pushing forward' – LeBron
The Lakers lost a fifth game in a row on Friday and a particularly costly one, as the Pelicans strengthened their grip on a play-in place.
LeBron James acknowledged the Los Angeles Lakers lost a "must-win" game at home to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday but insisted their season is not over yet.
The Lakers, who are 11th in the West, went down 114-111 to the ninth-placed Pelicans. With the San Antonio Spurs also winning in 10th, LA fell a full game outside the play-in tournament.
It was a fifth defeat in a row for the Lakers and came despite the team hurrying James and Anthony Davis back from injuries.
James scored 38 points in a mammoth 40-minute shift, yet an air ball from three-point range at the buzzer sealed the loss.
Afterwards, the four-time MVP – still in pole position for the scoring title with 30.3 points per game – was understandably disheartened.
"The big picture is that it pretty much was a must-win for us," James said, "and we didn't get the job done.