Although it only counted as one loss, there were painful layers to the defeat the Lakers experienced on Sunday afternoon. For one, it was a game they should have won, and — given their direct competition with the New Orleans Pelicans when it comes to play-in ramifications — a matchup they needed to win.
But despite holding a 20-plus point lead at one portion of the game, the team dug down and found yet another way to blow it, adding even more obstacles on their potential road to the postseason with the Pelicans leapfrogging them in the standings and the Spurs hot on their heels.