LOS ANGELES — LeBron James looked blankly at the rim after an easy shot failed to fall. Two possessions later, he winced as the right cut by a teammate didn’t materialize and another possession went to waste.
Later, matched up with slight Phoenix guard Landry Shamet, James looked for a way to score in the post. He passed out of the opportunity. Later, he simply ran Shamet over for a charge and then missed a shot in the paint with the backup getting another stop on the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Friday night, James played in his seventh game since returning from a torn tendon in his foot and the Lakers very much looked like a team that was searching for answers instead of one polishing everything heading into the postseason.
