Here is a by-the-numbers look at the Lakers’ 100-94 loss to the Miami Heat.
1
L.A.’s deficit with 40 seconds left. However, the Lakers’ offense fell apart from there, as they missed their last four shots of the game. Meanwhile, Hassan Whiteside closed out for the Heat, scoring all of Miami’s final five points, highlighted by a flying alley-oop dunk from Dwyane Wade.
“We just had a couple of defensive lapses,” head coach Byron Scott said. “The one where Whiteside gets the dunk, weak-side (defense) wasn’t there like we talked about. The end, as I told the guys, that’s been killing us all season long.
“Just sticking to our principles and doing what we’re supposed to do — you’ve got to do them in the heat of the battle. We just didn’t do it the last couple of minutes.”
7
Lakers who scored in double figures. No one player took over for L.A., but Ed Davis (14), Wayne Ellington (14), Jordan Hill (13), Carlos Boozer (13), Jeremy Lin (12), Wesley Johnson (12) and Jordan Clarkson (10) each scored at least 10 points. Davis (12 rebounds) and Hill (10 rebounds) both reached double-doubles, while Clarkson snagged a career-high seven boards.
Clarkson and Boozer Throw It Down
28.0
Percentage shot by the Lakers in the third quarter. L.A.’s struggles in the third period continued, as it shot just 7-for-25 in the frame. Miami was able to cool off the Lakers’ scorching shooting, as they had gone 22-for-38 (57.9 percent) in the first half.
Lakers Shot Chart (Third Quarter)
25
Rebounds grabbed by Whiteside, which were a career-high. Whiteside’s monster performance on the boards was also the best by a Lakers opponent since Emeka Okafor also hauled in 25 rebounds more than eight years ago (Dec. 29, 2006). Whiteside, who also had 18 points and four blocks, refused to be denied in the second half, when he grabbed 17 of his rebounds.
“Defensively for them, he just changes the game,” Lin said. “He gets a lot of blocks and rebounds. He changes a lot of shots. You’ve just got to keep attacking him and try to draw contact.”
43
Free throws shot by Miami. The Heat attempted the most foul shots by a Lakers opponent since the Clippers took 44 in the second game of the season (Oct. 31). Miami — which shot 26 more free throws than L.A. —made 33 of their attempts from the charity stripe (76.7 percent), and were led by Wade, who went 11-for-12. Whiteside, meanwhile, took 13 tries at the foul line, but made just six.