Lakers can’t close out Mavericks in physical game, fall in double OT

Luka Doncic held his nostril. LeBron James grabbed at his face. Tim Hardaway Jr. threw his arms within the air. And Troy Brown Jr. spent the ultimate second of regulation, fittingly, on the bottom.

In a bodily recreation with out some anticipated whistles, the Lakers and the Mavericks fought into double extra time Thursday night time, and whereas Dallas stored making huge performs, the Lakers couldn’t ever shut the door.

LeBron James had one three-point shot rim out and one other bounce off the iron as he tried to make the large performs for the Lakers that Doncic was making for the Mavericks.

The Lakers misplaced 119-115, the load of so many missed photographs and free throws an excessive amount of to beat.

It’s the Lakers’ second straight loss after the group had received its earlier 5.

Brown’s potential profitable three try on the finish of regulation got here up effectively quick after it appeared Hardaway made contact together with his capturing hand. After which, on the finish of the primary extra time, James argued for a foul name after his reverse was stopped on the rim by Christian Wooden.

Official Josh Tiven advised a pool reporter that Hardaway Jr. “will get a bit of the ball on the closeout after which does make some excessive 5 contact, which is authorized and that play was accurately no referred to as.”

In between the late-game drama and the primary extra time stood Doncic, the NBA’s main scorer hitting huge three-point photographs to equalize.

“He did what Luka does,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham mentioned after the loss. “He made the shot. I’m kicking myself. I want to educate a little bit higher in that occasion. Ought to have blitzed him.”

Russell Westbrook scored 28, James added 24 and three different Lakers completed in double figures, led by Wenyen Gabriel’s 14.

Doncic led the Mavericks with 35.

“Made a tricky shot,” Westbrook mentioned. “Easy as that.”

Pregame, the speak was concerning the methods the Lakers want to enhance their roster by exploring veteran free brokers. However how a lot? That type of depends upon the second.

Within the first quarter Thursday, the Lakers regarded as in the event that they wanted an enormous roster transfusion, Dallas carving a helpless protection up for 36 factors — echoes from Dallas’ 51-point third quarter on Christmas Day defining the primary 12 minutes.

However the Lakers’ protection tightened, with Westbrook’s depth on Doncic setting the tone.

Slowly, the Lakers carved into the deficit that was as excessive as 19 factors, lastly pushing forward within the fourth earlier than Dallas shortly grabbed a slight edge again.

However three-pointers from Westbrook and Gabriel and a layup from Dennis Schroder gave the Lakers a two-point lead within the closing two minutes.

With the Lakers up one later within the fourth, Hardaway missed a go-ahead three, opening the door for the Lakers to tie the rating on the free-throw line.

After a assessment moved Schroder off the road and put Westbrook there, the group murmured. However with James attempting to silence the followers, Westbrook hit two free throws to place the Lakers up three — simply sufficient to verify Doncic couldn’t beat them on the finish of the fourth.

However the lack of shot-making — James missed all seven of his threes and the group went 10 for 40 — meant the Lakers couldn’t give themselves a lot room for error.

And Thursday, there was simply an excessive amount of of it.

Whereas the Lakers will proceed to weigh commerce choices, the group is continuous to search for assist in free company.

The Lakers, in accordance with sources with information however unauthorized to talk publicly, are anticipated to host veteran facilities DeMarcus Cousins and Meyers Leonard on Friday.

Yahoo and the Athletic first reported the scheduled exercises, respectively.

Cousins, who signed with the Lakers in 2019, suffered a knee harm earlier than he might play for the franchise. Since, he has performed for the Rockets, Clippers, Bucks (with Ham) and Nuggets.

Leonard hasn’t performed in a NBA recreation since Jan. 9, 2021. In March 2021, Leonard was fined $50,000 for utilizing an antisemitic slur throughout a livestream broadcast wherein he was enjoying a online game. He was suspended per week and apologized.

“My ignorance about its historical past and the way offensive it’s to the Jewish group is totally not an excuse and I used to be simply incorrect,” Leonard wrote on Instagram on the time. He was later traded to Oklahoma Metropolis and launched.

When will LeBron James turn out to be NBA’s all-time main scorer?

A have a look at LeBron James’ pursuit of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time scoring report.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar factors: 38,387

LeBron James factors: 37,989

Factors from report: 399 factors

Projected video games till report: 15

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Projected report date: Feb. 11 vs. Warriors

Since he final performed, Leonard has undergone shoulder and ankle surgical procedures.

Ham wouldn’t “affirm or deny” the exercises.

“On the finish of the day, we’re continuously on the lookout for what’s on the market and simply being conscious,” he mentioned pregame Thursday. “There’s nothing else. That doesn’t imply individuals are going to make our roster.”

Ham mentioned “it will be irresponsible for us to not see what’s on the market.”

Getting Austin Reaves, Lonnie Walker IV and Patrick Beverley, who missed Thursday’s recreation with an sickness, again will assist. And The most important transfer, after all, will come as soon as Anthony Davis is ready to return.

Till then, whether or not they want a little bit or loads of assistance will type of change by the second.