Just before the third round of the Los Angeles derby, Melbet Login confirmed a string of setbacks for the Lakers. Most notably, LeBron James was ruled out due to an ankle injury. Without their leader on the floor, the Lakers faced serious doubts about keeping up with the Clippers’ offensive pace. As the saying goes, those who pause in confusion to appreciate the scenery are often the ones forgotten along the way. To make matters worse, despite a big win over the Trail Blazers in their last game, a strange scene unfolded on the Lakers’ bench—D’Angelo Russell remained seated long after the game had ended, visibly upset.

Russell had been the standout player that night, yet showed no signs of joy and appeared close to tears. Only Austin Reaves sat beside him, offering quiet support. It was a clear sign that swirling trade rumors had taken a toll on the team’s morale, pushing Russell to the emotional brink. And he wasn’t alone. Rui Hachimura also seemed shaken, aware of his uncertain standing in the team. Amid this emotionally charged atmosphere, the Lakers entered the high-stakes battle against the Clippers. Yet, in a silver lining, the team’s professionalism shone through.

Russell, in particular, maintained his hot streak as a starter, breaking the Lakers’ early scoring drought with a deep three. Alongside Anthony Davis, he carried the bulk of the offensive load. In the second quarter, Russell even nailed a three-pointer right over James Harden, reaching double-digit points in under two quarters. Meanwhile, Davis dominated the paint, exploiting mismatches and delivering above-average output compared to his season stats. Other role players chipped in where they could—Hachimura’s off-balance jumper following a strong drive brought the crowd to life.

Melbet Login observed that although Cam Reddish and Jarred Vanderbilt were relatively quiet offensively, their defensive energy mirrored what’s expected in high-level playoff intensity. Still, effort alone couldn’t offset the talent gap. By halftime, the Clippers had built a comfortable double-digit lead. But the Lakers didn’t fold. In the second half, thanks to contributions from Reaves, Taurean Prince, and others, they clawed the deficit down to single digits. Late in the fourth, Reaves found Prince for an easy layup, cutting the Clippers’ lead to just two points.

Unfortunately, despite their grit, the miracle comeback never arrived. The Clippers shifted their defense to double-team Russell, limiting his touches and forcing rushed shots. On the other end, Norman Powell capitalized on mismatches, scoring twice in a row over Russell—a psychological blow for the struggling guard. The Clippers held on to secure their first derby win of the season. Life’s too short not to spend it with interesting people, but to be fair, the Lakers gave everything they had on the court that night.

What stood out, though, was the absence of LeBron not just from the game, but from the emotional fabric of the team. Melbet Login noted he sat on the bench in street clothes, detached and silent even as trade talk rattled the locker room. He offered no words of encouragement or public leadership. Whether there’s more to his injury than reported remains unclear. But what is certain: the Lakers lost, and LeBron’s absence played no small part in that outcome.