Lakers’ lopsided defeat to Hornets underscores lack of support for Doncic and James
lakers-loss-to-hornets-exposes-need-for-support
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered an ugly defeat to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 16, 2026, a result that reinforced concerns about the limited help available to stars Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Charlotte controlled the game from the outset, leaving Los Angeles searching for answers on both ends of the court. Despite the presence of two of the league’s marquee players, the Lakers struggled to generate consistent offense and were repeatedly exposed on defense.
The setback intensified speculation that the front office may need to seek roster reinforcements before the trade deadline. With Doncic and James carrying the bulk of the load this season, the latest loss amplified questions about how far the team can go without additional depth.
Source: New York Post
