Unfocused Lakers Lose to Mavericks 118-97, Despite No Luka or Kyrie

There have been a few good candidates for "Worst" among the (now) 16 losses suffered by the Lakers over the course of this season. But Tuesday, the Lakers may have set a new bar. They went into Dallas facing a Mavs team without Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving, and playing on the second night of a back-to-back in which they had to travel back to from Memphis to Dallas after losing to the Grizzlies Monday night. Starting center Derek Lively was in foul trouble for much of the game, which is problematic for Dallas since their backup, Daniel Gafford, is on the shelf as well. LA, meanwhile, had a day of rest to think about a disappointing loss in Houston Sunday evening, and even got some reinforcements in the form of Gabe Vincent, who returned to the lineup after missing games with an oblique injury. And by beating Dallas, the Lakers could put a little space between themselves and a key competitor in the Western Conference. And yet, the Lakers lost, 118-97. When people question how good the Lakers are, and whether or not Rob Pelinka ought to be investing what's left of the team's prime assets in this season, it's games like this that give them pause. Good teams do not lose this game. They may not play great, they might hit some rocky points, but in the end, they win the game. (Really good teams knock Dallas out early, and never let them get confident, but let's walk before we run.) So if you're Pelinka, how do you react to nights like this? Can you believe that the Lakers are capable of enough consistency to push through the late stretch of the season, then into multiple rounds of playoff basketball, with enough high-end consistency to make an "all in" move seem like a reasonable gamble? There is an excellent chance that at the end of the year, the Lakers will see the standings and point to this game as a reason something more favorable didn't happen. It's possible, too, that it could be a reason the team doesn't go big at the deadline. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Horrible, horrible loss. SEGMENT 2: Nobody stepped up to get the job done, and the defense was really bad. SEGMENT 3: It starts with the stars - 39 points from LeBron and AD? That's not enough. Your favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delivered right to your in box. Sign up for free now, at lockedondaily.com . Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Prizepicks Now’s the perfect time to join.Download the app todayand use code LOCKEDONNBA to get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup! That’s right—no need to win to get the bonus, it’s guaranteed. PrizePicks—Run Your Game! Rocket RX Right now, our listeners can get 40% off your first order when you use code LOCKEDONNBA at RocketRX.com . Terms and Conditions apply. Rocket RX: Better sex, made simple. Ultimate GM A special offer for Locked On NBA listeners: Use promo code LOCKEDONCBB (all caps) when you download Ultimate College Basketball HC at ultimate-cbb.com or look it up on the app stores, to get a free boost for your program. It’s the perfect way to kickstart your coaching career. Ultimate College Basketball HC—begin your coaching legacy today! Turbo Tax Ready for stress-free taxes and the most money back, guaranteed? Head over to TurboTax.com today and get matched with your Expert. Only available with TurboTax Live Full Service. Real-time updates only in the iOS mobile app. See guarantee details at TurboTax.com/guarantees . Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel From big upsets to game-winning drives, the NFL Playoffs are better with FanDuelnew customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get TWO HUNDRED BUCKS in BONUS BETS - GUARANTEED - Win or Lose.Visit FANDUEL.COM t o get started. Make this playoff season unforgettable with FanDuel, an official sportsbook partner of the NFL. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER : 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.