The Los Angeles Lakers surrendered a quick double-digit advantage and fell 135-117 to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night, Jan. 15, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles opened fast, jumping in front 17-7 behind a LeBron James three-pointer, five straight points from Marcus Smart and six in a row from Luka Dončić. Dončić poured in 19 points in the first quarter, helping the Lakers carry a 39-30 lead into the second period.
Charlotte turned the tide when Miles Bridges drilled three consecutive threes and LaMelo Ball orchestrated a 34-16 second-quarter surge. The Hornets entered halftime ahead 64-55 after the Lakers managed only one field goal during an eight-minute stretch and grew frustrated with officiating.
Ball kept the Hornets rolling with back-to-back threes to open the third. Although Los Angeles produced 38 points in the period, defensive lapses allowed Charlotte to answer with 40, and the Lakers trailed 104-93 heading to the fourth.
Los Angeles briefly threatened when a James layup trimmed the margin to 109-103, but Charlotte responded immediately with a 9-0 run and never looked back. Ball continued to pile up points while the Lakers, unable to string together stops, ran out of gas down the stretch.
Up Next
The Lakers get Friday off before a back-to-back: Saturday on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers and Sunday at home versus the Toronto Raptors.
Source: Lakers Nation
