Luka Dončić is still shaking off the rust after missing six weeks with a calf injury, while at the same time trying to get acclimated with his new Los Angeles Lakers teammates after a sloppy performance in Wednesday's 131-119 loss to the Utah Jazz.

Wednesday, in the Lakers’ final game before the All-Star break, they looked slow. They looked unfocused. And most notably they looked pretty terrible. In some ways this was all predictable, the Lakers playing lifelessly with an eye on the upcoming week off after an emotionally and physically draining first 52 games of the season.

The Los Angeles Lakers might need a stopgap at center after the team’s deadline trade for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams fell through on Saturday because of a failed physical.

After trading Anthony Davis, the lone big men on the Lakers' roster are Jaxson Hayes, Christian Koloko, and Trey Jemison III. Potential stretch fives include Markieff Morris and Christian Wood, although the latter hasn't played this season due to offseason knee surgery.

Knecht, who scored 10 points in 17 minutes against the Jazz, explained that he was doing shooting drills at the Lakers' practice facility on Feb. 5 when he was interrupted for a m

Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) in the first quarter at Crypto.com Aren

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a costly 119-131 loss to the Utah Jazz in Luka Doncic's second game for the franchise. The team couldn't replicate the small-ball brilliance that helped them win their last six games in a row,

Dončić, acquired in a blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis on Saturday night, could make his debut with the Lakers on Saturday, coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. The Lakers home game with the Indiana Pacers will be televised on ESPN at 4 p.m. ET.