Let’s do it again.

disappointing defeat Notable matchup with Celtics It emphasized what we’ve seen all season. The Lakers are not at the level of a top-tier team. Maybe, or even potentially, it just won’t happen this season. Over 56 games, they had plenty of opportunities to prove everyone wrong, but they just couldn’t do it.

But the game still has to be played. And tonight, the Lakers face a team much closer to the lane, the 30-26 Orlando Magic. These two teams are actually tied in the standings at 17th and 16th in goal differential, the dreaded metric that has been used all season to explain why the Lakers are further from their best than their record suggests.

All these words are just to say this. Magic should be a good opportunity to cleanse yourself of the bitterness from your last loss. They’re not an elite team, but they’re a capable team that consistently plays hard and is looking to avoid a play-in spot in the East.

This could give the Lakers a little break, the Magic Two of the three best players could be missing.. Franz Wagner is out with an ankle injury, and Jalen Suggs, who missed the past two games with back spasms, is currently out. Listed as questionable with back tightness Regarding recent injury reports. Suggs is the team’s most impactful defender and leads the team in assists, so his potential absence will be significant.

rest: LAL with a day’s rest. ORL has one day off

Ranking: 17th place in LAL point difference (-0.5), 16th place in ORL point difference (-0.2)

LAL vs ORL 2024-25 record: 0-2

LAL damage: Jackson Hayes (Suspicious)

ORL injury: Franz Wagner (OUT), Jalen Suggs (questionable)

LAL predicts starting five: Luka Doncic (G), Marcus Smart (G), Austin Reeves (G), LeBron James (F), Deandre Ayton (C)

LAL key reserve: Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, Jared Vanderbilt, Luke Kennard

ORL predicts starting five: Anthony Black (G), Desmond Bane (G), Tristan da Silva (F), Paolo Banchero (F), Wendell Carter Jr. (C)

ORL key reservation: Jonathan Isaac, Jett Howard, Moritz Wagner, Jevon Carter, Jace Richardson

ORL rotation: