"It definitely got the best of us"- LeBron James blames rough schedule for 11th straight loss to the Clippers

LeBron James and the LA Lakers played their third game in four nights when they took on the LA Clippers. It showed in the way they opened the first quarter when they struggled on both ends of the floor.

“King James” dropped 37 points against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night but mustered just three points in the first half against the Clippers. Here’s what the four-time MVP had to say about playing the second night of a back-to-back schedule:

“It’s one of the toughest games we’ve had this year just coming off a road trip and getting back late last night and after an overtime game. … We had some good spurts but not enough.”

“It’s one of those scheduling conflicts in the season and it definitely got the best of us tonight.”

James' blistering form, particularly in overtime versus Utah, came to a screeching halt at Crypto.com Arena. He was only 1-6 from the field, scoring just three points with four turnovers. It only got worse in the second quarter when the Lakers were only able to hit 24 points while the Clippers hung 34 on them.

The score was 71-52 when the first half ended but it seemed like the Lakers played worse than the score indicated. LeBron James and crew were gassed while the Clippers played like they haven’t been on the basketball court since Monday night.

James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves led the comeback starting the third quarter. It looked like the Clippers were running away with the game when the lead ballooned to 24 points. The Lakers, however, refused to quit and slowly but steadily chipped in to the lead until they brought it down to eight points.

Kawhi Leonard’s squad entered the fourth quarter managing to keep an 11-point edge. LeBron James added 14 more points in the final 12 minutes but the Clippers rebuilt another huge lead.

Momentum swung to the Lakers starting the final period but Bones Hyland’s three straight three-pointers deflated them. Norman Powell, who had 13 points in the third quarter alone, continued to do damage in the last 12 minutes to allow the Clippers to sweep the season series.

LeBron James’ took the unenviable task of guarding Kawhi Leonard starting the second half. James was often left grabbing his shorts and out of breath during almost every lull in the action.

The well-rested Clippers had every answer the road-weary Lakers threw at them tonight.

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LeBron James is raring to compete in the play-in tournament if the LA Lakers end up there

LeBron James' LA Lakers are ready to compete whether they end up in the play-in bracket or not.

Tonight’s matchup between the LA Lakers and LA Clippers was crucial as the winner would grab the sixth spot and a guaranteed playoff spot. Had the Lakers won, they would have dropped the Clippers to the seventh seed.

The Lakers’ chances of getting an outright postseason appearance are no longer in their hands. They need to win their last two remaining games and hope that their rivals and the Golden State Warriors stumble.

LeBron James, however, is ready to compete whether they end up in the play-in or not:

“It is what it is. Wherever we end up, that’s where we end up. … We don’t have the luxury of ‘This is what we needed to do, this is where we’re gonna be.’ We just continue to play good basketball. … We’ll see what happens. Wherever we fall, we’d be ready to go.”

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