The Los Angeles Lakers had been on a strong run in recent weeks, and with the addition of Luka Dončić through trade, there was little reason to believe the Purple and Gold would lose any momentum. On Wednesday night, it was expected that they would continue their success as they faced the Utah Jazz again, following a decisive 132-113 victory the night before. However, the Lakers fell short in this rematch, suffering a 131-119 defeat.

While the game was away, it was still one the Lakers should have won with ease. The Jazz are among the weakest teams in the league, and given the Lakers’ form leading up to the game, it should have been a straightforward victory. Yet, this wasn’t the case, as JJ Redick pointed out that some Lakers players may have felt the win would be “easy” after their dominant victories in the season’s first three meetings, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.

The Lakers’ performance on Wednesday was uncharacteristically sluggish, especially in the paint defense, which was virtually nonexistent. This exposed a significant vulnerability, especially after trading away Anthony Davis and having their deal for Mark Williams fall through.

The Jazz were also able to disrupt the Lakers’ defense by employing a zone defense, which limited the effectiveness of LA’s skilled ballhandlers and forced the team into taking more three-pointers. This game could provide valuable insight for teams looking to halt the Lakers’ championship aspirations following the Dončić trade.