The Lakers have the second-hardest remaining schedule in the league, so wins are not going to be easy the rest of the way. That means even when they’re ugly, and painful, and somehow feel like losses, they have to be celebrated as long as no one gets hurt — because the alternative is having to win two play-in games on the road just to get to the postseason.
In that respect, Wednesday night was a success as the Lakers ended their three-game losing streak and put some extra distance between themselves and the 10th-seeded Trail Blazers in the process.