The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a heartbreaking 111-110 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, leaving coach Darvin Ham distraught. Following the game, Ham likened the loss to the team’s defeat to the Indiana Pacers earlier in the season, where they also lost in the final seconds. The rookie coach discussed the Lakers’ poor defense, free-throw shooting and fouls, which could have easily resulted in a win. Anthony Davis had a stellar game with 26 points, but his performance in the final few seconds was not enough to secure a victory for the Lakers.
Important Details about “Like Indiana all over again”- Darvin Ham distraught after LA Lakers’ heartbreaking loss to Mavericks –
– LA Lakers coach Darvin Ham was distraught after their 111-110 loss to the Mavericks.
– Ham likened the defeat to their loss to the Indiana Pacers earlier this season.
– The rookie coach discussed the Lakers’ poor defense in the final possession and their poor free-throw shooting and fouls during the game.
– The Lakers went 19-for-31 from the charity stripe and would have won the game had they not missed many free throws.
– Anthony Davis had a terrible final minute, fouling Kleber and sagging off from him in the final possession.
– Kleber hit a game-winning 3-point shot at the buzzer to give the Mavericks a 111-110 win.
– The Lakers are still No. 10 in the Western Conference, while the Mavericks are now sixth.
LA Lakers coach Darvin Ham Distraught after Heartbreaking Loss to Mavericks
The LA Lakers faced the Dallas Mavericks on Friday evening, March 17, 2023, at the Crypto.com Arena. It was a highly anticipated game as both teams were fighting for their playoff spots.
The LA Lakers coach, Darvin Ham, was distraught following his team’s heartbreaking 111-110 loss to the Mavericks. Ham likened the defeat to their loss to the Indiana Pacers earlier in the season.
Ham faced reporters after the game to discuss what led to his team’s meltdown late in the game. The rookie coach described the way they defended Kyrie Irving in the final possession. Irving found Maxi Kleber, who hit the winner over Anthony Davis.
“We made it difficult, tried to be as active as possible, and (Irving) found an open guy, and we didn’t get there fast enough,” Ham said. “AD had a last-minute outstretched contest, but it’s tough. It’s like Indiana all over again.”
Ham alluded to the LA Lakers’ 116-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers at home on November 29. Tyrese Haliburton had the ball with under five seconds left but found rookie Andrew Nembhard, who hit the game-winning 3-point shot over LeBron James.
Ham also lamented the Lakers’ poor free-throw shooting and fouls during the game. The Lakers went 19-for-31 from the charity stripe and would have won the game easily had they not missed a lot of their free throws.
As for fouls, Wenyen Gabriel fouled Kyrie Irving on a drive, and Anthony Davis accidentally hit Maxi Kleber from beyond the arc late on. The Lakers (34-37) are still No. 10 in the Western Conference, while the Mavericks (36-35) are now sixth.
Anthony Davis had a Terrible Final Minute in Lakers’ Loss to Mavericks
The LA Lakers were up by four points over the Dallas Mavericks with less than 10 seconds left in the game. However, the Lakers squandered the lead, with Maxi Kleber hitting the game-winning 3-point shot at the buzzer to give the Mavericks a 111-110 win.
Anthony Davis had a great game, putting up 26 points, ten rebounds, and three assists. Davis had a terrible stretch in the final seven seconds of the game, though. He fouled Kleber with 7.2 seconds remaining. Kleber made three free throws to cut the Lakers’ lead to just one point.
The Mavericks then fouled Davis on the next possession. He missed the first free throw before making the second to give the Lakers a 110-108 lead with 6.7 seconds left. Kyrie Irving was unable to find an open shot but saw Kleber and passed the ball to him.
Kleber shot from beyond the arc, releasing it with just 0.2 seconds left and making it at the buzzer. Davis sagged off from Kleber but was unable to recover to contest the shot.
Post-Game Reactions
The Lakers were devastated after the loss, particularly given it was a game they should have won. However, there were some positive takeaways from the game as well. Davis had a tremendous performance, and the team did a good job of keeping the Mavericks on their toes for the most part.
Despite the loss, the Lakers remain optimistic about their chances of making the playoffs. They still have a chance to climb the standings, but they need to start winning more games if they want to make it happen. The team has a lot of young talent and should be able to continue to improve over the coming seasons.
As for the Mavericks, they were ecstatic to come away with the win. They played hard throughout the game and never gave up, even when they were down late. Kleber’s clutch three in the final seconds was the highlight of the game, and it showed just how dangerous the team can be when they get hot.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Lakers’ loss to the Mavericks was a tough pill to swallow. It was a game they should have won, but they weren’t able to close it out. The team will need to regroup quickly and get back to winning if they want to make the playoffs.
As for the Mavericks, they continue to play well, and they look like they could make a deep run in the playoffs. They have a lot of talent on their roster, and they seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time.
In conclusion, the NBA is full of surprises, and the Lakers’ loss to the Mavericks is just one example of that. It was a thrilling game from start to finish, and it’s games like these that remind us why we love basketball.