Mike D'Antoni has admitted that the Los Angeles Lakers are "in a hole" following their heavy defeat to the Denver Nuggets.
The Pacific side were thrashed 137-115, leaving themselves well adrift of division leaders, the Golden State Warriors.
The coach told reporters: "It's tough. There's no sugarcoating it. We're in a hole, and we put ourselves in this hole.
"We'll get guys coming back [from injury]. We just have to keep playing hard, keep your head down, go through it."
The Lakers have won just once in their last eight games.