In their last encounter for the regular season, the Lakers went down to the Mavericks 111-110.
For almost the entire game, Los Angeles had a hard time defending Dallas around the arc, and so it’s fitting the game was taken from them on a Dallas dagger three at the buzzer, courtesy of Maxi Kleber who had 10 points, four rebounds, and one very important triple.
There are eleven games remaining for the Lakers. If they won tonight, L.A. that would have put them in a three-way tie for seventh place in the West and one game away from the sixth spot which would relieve them from the NBA Play-In Tournament. They sit at tenth in the Western Conference now.
After missing their last game against Houston, Anthony Davis returned to play tonight and had a team high 26 points accompanied by 10 rebounds.
Austin Reaves produced 16 points and Dennis Schröder brought another 15 and five assists.
Austin, Dennis, and Wenyen Gabriel, who had nine points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and a block, their individual efforts lifted the Lakers. In the fourth quarter it seemed like despite their shortcomings the Lakers were going to sneak out a win.
But in addition to Dallas’ firepower, the Lakers had difficulty knocking down their free throws, collectively the team missed 31 shots from the line. “We make our free throws; we’re probably not having this conversation,” Ham said postgame.
LeBron James hasn’t taken the floor since the end of February; this was the 10th straight game he missed due to a right foot injury. When asked how LBJ’s recovery was coming along, Head Coach Darvin Ham kept it curt and replied, “Everything’s going according to plan.”
Dallas’ Luka Doncic didn’t suit up tonight, this was his fourth game out on account of a thigh injury. But Dallas’ other star, Kyrie Irving, did return. With Kyrie’s 38 points, six rebounds, and six assists, he had the Lakers defense turned on its head. Kyrie had five of the Mav’s 16-of-34 triples.
This loss was a stinger, but the Lake Show can’t stay down for too long. They play the Magic on Sunday back at home.
