CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's now officially a road trip-up.
What once was a promising 4-0 start on the Lakers' longest trip this season has become a stalled vehicle in the fast lane, the Lakers failing again to beat the Charlotte Bobcats in a 94-84 setback Tuesday at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Twelve days into their 13-day voyage, the Lakers looked weary and heavy-legged, unable to keep pace with the league's second-lowest scoring offense.
The Lakers (58-16) also lost ground to Cleveland (61-13), which won its 13th consecutive game and moved three games ahead of the Lakers for the league's top record. Each team has eight regular-season games left.
Strange thing, but the Lakers have losing records against only two teams in their history -- Boston (119-151) and Charlotte (4-6).
How weird was this one?
For once, Lakers fans in attendance weren't the ones celebrating a taco promotion. Bobcats fans cheered when their team broke the 89-point barrier, grounds for a free fast-food taco to everybody in attendance.
Even Bobcats managing partner Michael Jordan was thrilled by the proceedings, cheering animatedly at several junctures from his seat near the end of the Bobcats' bench.
The Lakers weren't so enthralled, following up a season-low output on offense Sunday against the Atlanta Hawks with another shaky shooting effort.
The Lakers made only 39.2% of their shots. The Bobcats made 51.5% of their attempts.
Will there soon be rest for the weary if the Lakers fall far enough behind Cleveland?
"We said we'd push on to 60 [victories]," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "Are we there yet? Not quite. So we'll probably push on to 60, is what we'll do. I think that feels to me like the right thing to do."
The Lakers have been stuck on 58 for two games as their starters have been largely misfiring.
Kobe Bryant had a subpar night with 25 points on 11-for-28 shooting and only two rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes.
Trevor Ariza made two of nine shots, and the Lakers' reserves were barely better, making five of 22 attempts.
"Kobe couldn't hit shots," Jackson said. "Our bench didn't hit many of their shots. Maybe it was [tired] legs, but I'm not willing to just say that offhand."
The Lakers couldn't really say why the Bobcats (34-40) have such a grip on them, winning six of the last seven games between the teams.
"I have no idea," Lamar Odom said.
