Lakers ‘embarrassed’ in worst loss of season to Bobcats

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, (Reuters) – The defending  champion Los Angeles Lakers were left embarrassed after their  worst loss of the season, a 109-89 thrashing by the Charlotte  Bobcats on Monday.

Kobe Bryant

One day after a bad 89-75 defeat to the Orlando Magic, the Lakers fell flat in an effort that left head coach Phil Jackson fuming.

“I just have this to say: we’re very disappointed in our performance tonight, we’re embarrassed about what we did, and that’s it,” Jackson told reporters before walking away.

After beginning their current seven-game road trip with four wins, Los Angeles has lost two straight and has dropped eight of their past 10 meetings with the Bobcats (24-31).

Charlotte forward Gerald Wallace recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds while Gerald Henderson added 18 points to lead the Bobcats to a second-half surge that knocked out the Lakers (38-18).

The Bobcats ended the third quarter with a 14-3 spurt to pull 78-60 clear and led by as many as 28 in the fourth.

Kobe Bryant managed 20 points but made just 8 of 20 field goals while Pau Gasol finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the defeat.

Los Angeles will look to regroup against the NBA-worst  Cleveland Cavaliers today in the finale of their road  trip.