The Los Angeles Lakers left Moda Center frustrated on Jan. 17, 2026, after a 132-116 defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers that was marked by a lopsided first-quarter whistle and another wave of injury absences.
Head coach JJ Redick was without Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, yet said the bigger issue was an officiating night that never settled. Portland attempted 22 free throws in the opening period, setting a tone the Lakers could not escape.
“They got off to a bad start tonight, and they admitted that to me,” Redick told Spectrum SportsNet. “Then they were all over the map—making calls, then not actually making a call. We had to go over multiple times and ask what was going on.” The coach added that communication with crew chief Pat Fraher “wasn’t great” and will be noted in the league’s post-game feedback process. While Redick acknowledged officiating was not the sole reason for the loss, he described night-to-night inconsistency as a league-wide concern.
LeBron James, who helped trim the deficit briefly in the second half, echoed the sentiment. “I think it was like 22 free throws in the first quarter,” he said. “It’s hard to set your defense with that. We weren’t doing anything outlandish. We got bodies in front of guys and there were a couple calls that were difficult.” James added that “every night is different” when it comes to how crews manage physical play, even as league-wide foul totals have dipped in recent weeks.
Despite the officiating complaints, the Lakers never led and struggled to generate stops. Redick noted that, as one of the NBA’s marquee franchises, Los Angeles expects every opponent’s best effort and must respond accordingly.
Source: LakersNation
