The Los Angeles Lakers resumed their season after the All-Star break exactly as they ended it. It was another loss against the team they would expect themselves to comfortably overrule. The Charlotte Hornets stunned the Purple and Gold in what was a contest of will. No team’s offense clicked. However, there was one distinct turning point. Austin Reaves suffered the first ejection of his career.

At first glance, it seemed to be an innocent ejection. The usually collected Reaves burst at the official for a no-call. Next thing you know, within seconds the 26-year-old was punished with two technical fouls. LeBron James admitted his teammate used an excess of “f-bombs” towards the official. Notably, Reaves said ‘f— you’ to the sideline official when arguing the no-call.

However, not just James, but even Austin Reaves agreed with him getting penalized with one technical foul. The Akron Hammer claims that drilled in the lesson. “He didn’t say it again,” James claims. That’s the reason the young Lakers guard is oblivious to how the officials decide on such calls.

“I have been in the league four years now and I have heard many and many things said to the refs from you know certain people and nothing to be done. But I guess when it’s unexpected from somebody that’s when you know the biggest issues happen. Like I said, I have got to be better… I felt like he missed a call. I don’t know, I haven’t seen it, but yeah, I got to do better,” Reaves said.

His dismissal from the game filled the Charlotte Hornets with confidence. From the end of the third quarter till the end of the game, the young team played looked spirited. They went on a 21-1 run from the time Austin Reaves left the game. Albeit, the Lakers would come back. But with the margin of errors less, tonight, the Lakers made the greater mistakes.

The Lakers lost due to their own errors

From the onset, it was clear the Lakers nor the Hornets were fully out of the All-Star break. The game didn’t follow the rhythm you would expect from these teams. Luka Doncic’s tough start as a Laker continued as he scored just 14 on 1-2111 shooting from range. However, despite their sluggish performance, the Lakers held a double-digit lead in the third quarter.

It took one run for Charlotte to take command of the tempo.

The Lakers defense limited Charlotte to shooting just 36.1% from the floor. However, the way they balanced it played against them. They lost their identity, shooting 51 threes and throwing minimal pressure at the rim. Even with such skilled interior scorers, the Lakers only went to the line 12 times, their second-lowest mark this season.

Two of those free throws came towards the end of the game. Rui Hachimura, a 77% free-throw shooter, missed both clutch free throws giving way for LaMelo Ball to expertly sink the floater, which ultimately would be the reason the Hornets won. LeBron James had a chance to tie the game towards the end. However, he missed both the three-point attempts.

But it never should have gotten to that. Tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers lost the plot. Forcing threes when they weren’t hitting nylon allowed the Hornets to generate the momentum they needed. And once they started having fun, every shot had decisiveness behind it.

Of course, losing Austin Reaves in a clutch game was a huge loss. However, the Lakers kicked themselves tonight. Three-point shooting has never been their identity since LeBron James entered. Rather than playing to their strengths against a weak defense, the absence of energy and tenacity put forth a disappointing result.

They will have a chance to make things right tomorrow or extend their losing streak when the Lakers take on the in-form Portland Trail Blazers.