LeBron after crucial loss to Pelicans: Lakers 'can't catch a break'
The Los Angeles Lakers' postseason hopes continue to dwindle.
After the Lakers dropped their latest contest to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night, LeBron James expressed frustration over the team's disappointing campaign.
"Just feels like you can't catch a break," James said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "No matter what's going on on the floor, it just feels like the ball bounces the other way; the ball doesn't always bounce in our favor, or a call doesn't go in our favor ... When it rains, it pours for our year."
Returning after missing two games with an ankle injury, James air-balled a late 3-point attempt that would have tied the game. The Pelicans' win moved them three games ahead of the 11th-seeded Lakers, who lost their fifth straight.
"The big picture is that it pretty much was a must-win for us, and we didn't get the job done," James said. "We had great opportunities throughout the night, and we didn't make enough plays down the stretch."
L.A. is one game behind the San Antonio Spurs for the 10th seed and final play-in spot in the Western Conference. The Spurs hold the tiebreaker over the Lakers.
James, 37, had 38 points and eight rebounds in 40 minutes against the Pelicans. Anthony Davis had 23 points and 12 rebounds in his return from a foot injury that kept him out of Los Angeles' last 18 contests.
The Lakers face a tall task as they chase a play-in tournament berth with just five regular-season games remaining. Four of those contests are against teams ahead of them in the standings: one each against the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors, and two against the Denver Nuggets.