Lakers leave play-in positions

DALLAS — For the first time since the first week of the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves out of the Play-im after Tuesday night’s 128-110 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

playing without Lebron James (sprained left ankle) and Anthony Davis (sprain in the middle part of the right foot), the Lakers lost up to 37 points while Luka Doncić he recorded a 30-point triple-double in the first three quarters (34 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists).

“We just didn’t execute well enough or play tough enough, IQ, intelligence, focus and fight enough,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “So, it’s not acceptable and it was a poor performance across the board. Coaches, players, everyone.”

Lakers They are currently number 11 in the Western Conference with seven games remaining. At 31-44, they have the same record as the No. 10 San Antonio Spurs, but the Spurs own the tiebreaker.

Heading into the final stretch, the Lakers are 4-10 against their remaining six opponents (they play the Denver Nuggets twice). The Spurs have gone 5-11 against their remaining six opponents (they play the Portland Trail Blazers twice). The Nuggets (45-31) are No. 6 in the Western Conference standings. The Blazers (27-48) are No. 12 and will be without their star, Damian Lillardfor the rest of the season.

Vogel said James and Davis will be re-evaluated Thursday to determine their availability for Los Angeles’ game against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Davis, who has been sidelined since Feb. 16, aims to return Friday at home against the No. 9 New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN.

Tuesday was as bad as it has been for the Lakers in a season already full of disappointments. The 82 points they allowed in the first half was the second-most points allowed in a first half in franchise history, narrowly avoiding the record set when the Boston Celtics hung 83 on them in the first half on February 27, 2019. 1959, according to data compiled by ESPN Stats & Info.

LA’s 26-point halftime deficit on Tuesday combined with the 28 points the Pelicans outscored them in the second half on Sunday represented the worst point differential, minus-54, in a two-half span for the Lakers in the shot clock era.

“Ranking is results,” Vogel said when asked if missing out on the play-in adds to the Lakers’ urgency. “We have to keep our focus on the process and the work and the things that will lead to the next win. That’s the only place our focus will be.”

Russell Westbrookwho had 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists but was part of LA being outscored by 25 points in the 32 minutes he was on the floor, added another controversial postgame trade with a repoddor to his season resume.

When Westbrook was asked what changes for Los Angeles now that he has to fight his way back into the entry tournament, he replied, “Nothing, man. Nothing.”

After the reporter continued to ask why nothing had changed, Westbrook got up from his seat at the interview table and said, “What do you think should change?”

The reporter suggested “win” as an answer, and Westbrook went on to ask, “Okay. Do you have a win answer? Do you have a win answer?”

As the exchange continued for a few more moments, Westbrook noticed a video camera pointed in his direction and changed his tune, offering the reporter a half hug, before leaving the room.

“We’re fine,” he said. “They have to make sure they record that.”

The Lakers are now 4-13 since the All-Star break, which is on pace to become the franchise’s second-lowest winning percentage after the All-Star break in team history.

“We just got our butts kicked. Straight up,” he said. Stanley Johnson. “So whatever the spirit is or whatever it is, we got our butts kicked. It was 30 points pretty much the whole game. I don’t know how else you want to say it. We’ve got to be a lot better than that.”