VOGEL SHRUGS OFF TALK OF HIM BEING ON HOT SEAT
Lakers coach Frank Vogel shrugged off widespread reports of his job insecurity Wednesday night, saying it’s all part of being in charge of a 17-time NBA champion franchise.
“In this business and with this team, if you’re not winning at a super-high level, you’re going to get this type of noise,” Vogel said before the Lakers lost 111-104 to the visiting Pacers. “I’m good at blocking it out. I feel good about the job we’re doing, and obviously we believe the results are going to come. But over the course of an 82-game season with a new group, you’re going to have some ugly nights.”
Several news outlets with ties to the Lakers’ front office reported Tuesday that Vogel’s job is in serious jeopardy after his reconfigured roster’s 22-22 start to the season. Vogel was reportedly close to being fired if Los Angeles hadn’t responded to a 37-point blowout loss in Denver last Saturday with an impressive win over the high-scoring Utah Jazz on Monday.
Vogel won a championship ring just 15 months ago when he led a deep, defensively dominant team headlined by LeBron James and Anthony Davis to a title in the Florida bubble. General Manager Rob Pelinka has eviscerated that championship roster in
the 13 months since last season began, with only James, Davis and Talen HortonTucker remaining.
Vogel is 116-70 in his 21⁄2 seasons since taking over the Lakers in May 2019, but the former Orlando and Indiana boss knows the only thing that matters in Hollywood is what comes next. With his injury-plagued roster finally
edging close to full health, Vogel said he’s confident Los Angeles can still become a title contender.
Vogel said he met with Lakers executives after the loss to Denver and again after the win over Utah, just as he does after every single game.
“I don’t feel like I’m under siege,” Vogel said. “It’s not hard to do my job. I’m very focused
on the task at hand. I’ve always been that way. It’s really not up to me whether it’s fair or not. It comes with the territory.”
Wednesday’s games Nuggets 130, Clippers 128 (OT):
Nikola Jokic had a 49point triple-double for host Denver with 14 rebounds and getting his 10th assist on the game-winning 3-pointer by Aaron Gordon, who had 28 points. Ivica Zubac had a season-high 32 points and Reggie Jackson had 28 for the Clippers.
76ers 123, Magic 110: Joel Embiid tied his career high with 50 points in just 27 minutes, leading a dominant third quarter that carried host Philadelphia past Orlando. Embiid also had 12 rebounds and three blocks.
Nets 119, Wizards 118: Kyrie Irving scored 22 of his 30 points in the first half, and visiting Brooklyn held off Washington when Kyle Kuzma and Spencer Dinwiddie missed 3-pointers in the final seconds.
Bucks 126, Grizzlies 114: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and 15 rebounds, and Khris Middleton scored 27 to lead host Milwaukee past Memphis, which had won 12 of 13, was without two of its leading scorers in Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane.
Hornets 111, Celtics 102: LaMelo Ball had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead visiting Charlotte past Boston.
Heat 104, Trail Blazers 92: Caleb Martin scored 26 points, Bam Adebayo added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and host Miami beat Portland.
Mavericks 102, Raptors 98: Luka Doncic scored a season-high 41 points, including a clutch 3-pointer with 1:01 to play, and tied a season best with 14 rebounds as surging Dallas held off visiting Toronto.
Rockets 116, Jazz 111: Garrison Mathews scored 23 points, including five 3-pointers, to send visiting Houston over Utah.
Hawks 134, Timberwolves 122: Trae Young scored 23 of his 37 points in the third quarter, sparking Atlanta’s comeback against visiting Minnesota. Led by Young, who had 14 assists, the Hawks opened the second half with a 20-2 run.
Bulls 117, Cavaliers 104: DeMar DeRozan scored 30 points, Nikola Vucevic added 24 points and 12 rebounds, and struggling Chicago closed out visiting Cleveland with a 14-2 run.
Spurs 118, Thunder 96: Dejounte Murray had 23 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, and host San Antonio made 15 3-pointers as it rolled past Oklahoma City.
Pistons 133, Kings 131: Cory Joseph made a 14-foot jumper with 25.9 seconds remaining to cap a game-ending 11-0 run for visiting Detroit.
Notable
The Nuggets acquired veteran wing player Bryn Forbes from San Antonio as part of a three-team deal that also included Boston.