The Lakers had a Friday night in their home city waiting for them, a 20-point deficit in the second half to the playoff-bound Milwaukee Bucks the only thing standing between them and the weekend.
The things to play for? They didn't really apply — not with the hopes for a trip to the postseason already extinguished.
But a group of players who have been doubted and dumped, traded and trashed — Tyler Ennis, Alex Caruso, Ivica Zubac, Channing Frye and Kyle Kuzma — triggered a furious fourth-quarter rally that electrified the crowd at Staples Center.
The rally fell short — Kuzma's potential game-winner missed badly with Walton keeping a timeout in his pocket for the final attempt.