Jazz can not return the script, give way to the Lakers 90-83 for a third consecutive defeat

Los Angeles • We have already seen this movie. The plot is quite recognizable at this stage: low energy start, lamentable performance outside shooting, a little longer distance between last year's magical ending and the disappointing start of this year.

It has arrived in Indiana. It's still happened vs Sacramento. The turning point of the trilogy was to face a team that made 23 turnovers and totaled only 10 assists … and who always finds a way to collapse.

Yes, the 90-83 defeat of the Jazz against the Lakers Friday night at the Staples Center – their third straight loss – was utterly disastrous.

It certainly did not help star goalie Donovan Mitchell come out in the second quarter with a bruise on his ribs. Of course, the fact that he did not play well so far did not help him.

Not much about jazz was.

This game started in the same way as many others – inefficiently. The first four possessions in Utah resulted in three missed shots and a turnover. The Lakers took advantage by taking 7-0 advantage.

Two buckets of Derrick Favors and Joe Ingles 3 brought the team closer – until L.A. responded with an 11-0 run.

It would be a recurrent theme: the Lakers stand out, the Jazz fills the gap and the cycle is repeated.

Utah's deficit for opening the first quarter in the first quarter was almost miraculous, as the team shot 7 times out of 26 (26.9%) and 1 out of 11 against 3 (9 , 1%).

It could have been a lot worse, but for the Lakers themselves, they gained 39.1% in total and 28.6% in depth.

The second quarter was pretty much the same – bad shots from both teams, a lot of turnovers from both teams.

Utah sort of finished with a six-point gain for the quarter and tied 39 points at halftime, despite the fact that he shot only 17 out of 48 (35.4%). ), 3 of 16 (18.8%) and eight turnarounds. But again, the Lakers were no better – they shot 42.5 percent overall, 16.7 percent deep, and 13 turnovers.

There were occasional light spots. Ingles was a rare effective shooter – hit 5 on 8 early for 12 points in the first half. There was even a sighting from Thabo Sefolosha, as the veteran attacked a race with five quick points – striking a 3-way turn, then simulating another pump, and then pushing and draining a midrange rider.

Meanwhile, LeBron James earned four points (two out of seven shots), six rebounds and three assists.

None of this could offset the half-time news that Mitchell would not be coming back. (He finished with 4 points on 2 shots out of 9, including 0 out of 4 in depth.)

Utah still decided to get out of his locker room to start the third quarter, however, and even held out for a moment.

And "hang on" was an appropriate term – the teams came in the last quarter after making 35 turnovers and firing 8 of 37 total (21.6%).

The finale was barely Hollywood – no last-minute dramatic blow to seal the deal. Only the team with the best player in the world gradually to finally depart.

In the end, James's night essentially James had turned into another quasi-triple-double. He finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Brandon Ingram, who had attacked the Lakers for the first three quarters, finished with 24 points and six rebounds.

Alec Burks – who spent most of Mitchell's minutes – led the Jazz with 17 points, while Ingles added 16, Rudy Gobert was 13 and Derrick Favors finished with 10.

The Jazz drew only 36.8% of the total, and only 4 of the 23 3 (17.4%).

As they leave for Sacramento Saturday afternoon, before Sunday's revenge against the Kings, they can only hope to meet a completely different scenario.

This story will be updated.