Lakers player grades: Hornets defeat L.A. in stunning blowout

Key Highlights

• Los Angeles had lots of trouble stopping the Hornets from scoring near the rim, and rebounding was a problem as well. The team couldn't solve any of its woes in time to make a real run, as it fell to the Hornets, 135-117. L. A.
• allowed the Hornets to shoot 54.3% overall and 46.5% from 3-point range, and it was outrebounded 50-35.
• Former All-Star guard LaMelo Ball went off for 30 points on 10-of-20 field-goal shooting and 9-of-17 from 3-point range while dishing off 11 assists. The Lakers will head north to play the Portland Trail Blazers, another sub-.500 team that will be tougher than its record may suggest, on Saturday, before returning home to face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
• They will then start an eight-game road trip on Tuesday. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMarcus Smart: DSmart wasn't effective enough offensively, nor did he do enough to slow down the Hornets on the defensive end.
• He finished with 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting from the field and 1-of-5 from 3-point land, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 32 minutes. Jake LaRavia: B-plusLaRavia could've done more defensively, just like most, if not all, of his teammates, but offensively, he clearly did enough.