A few hours before the game started, news dropped that LeBron James would take his annual SLC vacation was a late scratch for the game and the Utah Jazz took advantage winning 132-125.
Minus LeBron, the Lakers needed a big night from other players on the team, and they got that from D’Angelo Russell, who scored 39 on insane efficiency with 8 assists. Had the Lakers gotten a bigger night from Anthony Davis on the offensive end, they might have had a chance, but he shot just 5/21 from the field. There was a reason he struggled at the rim, and the reason was Lauri Markkanen.