The Lakers had their chances with the one shot that was easy enough to have the word “free” in front of it.
But in the final minutes of their first home loss of the season, a 119-118 loss to the Orlando Magic, the unguarded 15-footer was the biggest hurdle.
Anthony Davis missed three free throws, including a pair with 18.9 seconds left, before Franz Wagner hit a game-winning 3-pointer to snap the Lakers’ six-game winning streak.
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The Lakers missed all but two of their last eight free throws, a stretch in which Austin Reaves missed a pair and LeBron James was separated. Davis made just one of four attempts in the final 27 seconds — and his 18-footer to win the game at the buzzer wasn’t close.
The collapse came after the Lakers survived a sleepy third quarter thanks to the fourth-quarter magic of James, who scored 14 of his 31 in the final period.
Davis led the Lakers with 39.
“Every loss is frustrating,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
The Lakers host Denver on Saturday night.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
