On Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena, minutes after suffering a 127-116 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers adopted a comparatively upbeat demeanor. The Lakers, who were without LeBron James (day-to-day, ankle) despite falling back below.500 (22-23), were pleased with their effort against the NBA’s hottest team.

“How we competed together was the lesson tonight,” said Darvin Ham, who enjoys repurposing “Ws” and “Ls” as “Wisdom” and “Lessons,” respectively.

“Remaining accountable for errors and ensuring that they do not occur twice.” Attempting to improve defensively as the game timer expired. “I’m disheartened by the loss, but I’m pleased with the team’s effort in his absence.”

The Lakers allowed 77 points in the first half, which was a tie-high for the Clips for the season. However, as the game progressed, they made strides in their defensive execution. The Lakers closed within two points in the fourth quarter, having rallied from a 16-point deficit, before Kawhi Leonard (25 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, 10-for-14 shooting) and the Clippers inexorably drew away.

The Clippers had an abundance of firepower against the Lakers due to the contributions of Leonard, James Harden (23 points, 10 assists), Paul George (17 points), Terrance Mann (17 points), Russell Westbrook (16 points), and Norman Powell (16 points), all of whom converted their share of mesmerizing goals.

Austin Reaves remarked, “When they execute shots like that, one must tip their hat to them.”

Jarred Vanderbilt delivered an additional disruptive effort for the Lakers (12 points, nine rebounds, three thefts) as he regains his playing form.

Without LeBron, the Lakers are presently 2-3 and 6-15 in non-official home contests.

“I thought we played solid defense,” said D’Angelo Russell, whose fourth consecutive game-high 20 points was surpassed. “Enjoyed numerous opportunities. I missed numerous clear attempts. I believe that is the source of some positivity. Additionally, we are lacking LeBron James.”

Despite their consistent denials that they exist in the NBA, it appears that the Lakers are viewing their loss on Tuesday as a moral victory, as evidenced by their postgame remarks and demeanor. Regardless of LeBron James’s presence or absence, the Lakers’ оffensive rating is among the bottom ten, which is significantly below the average for teams vying for championships in a league where scoring is on the rise of an unprecedented era.

The Lakers were reminded of the difficulty they would face in competing with the Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Oklahoma City Thunder, all of whom are known for their potent offenses. In the standings, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the only Western opponent ahead of the Lakers that scores fewer points per game on average.

“The league is an оffensive sport,” Reaves, who finished 5-for-14, stated. “I believe that the Golden State Warriors’ offense, which ranked first in 2015, would be in the middle of the pack this year.” That is the direction the game is trending. There are positives to be gleaned from that.