Lakers Struggle in Surprising Loss to Short-Handed Mavericks
The Los Angeles Lakers traveled to Dallas for the second game of their Texas road trip. After a close loss to the Houston Rockets, the Lakers were expected to handle a Dallas team missing stars Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić. With Daniel Gafford also out, LA was favored to win and get back on track.
Surprisingly, the Lakers struggled and lost to the Mavericks 97-118. This was a troubling loss, as the Mavericks had lost five straight.
Despite missing three starters, Dallas found a way to beat a full-powered LA squad. Let’s examine the key factors behind the Mavericks’ surprising win and what the Lakers need to fix.
Inexcusable loss.
No Kyrie. No Luka. Still lost. pic.twitter.com/Wq3Z965I7G
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) January 8, 2025
Lakers Settling for Threes
The Purple and Gold shot 31.4% from beyond the arc, while the Mavericks hit 47.4%. This discrepancy played a big role in the game’s outcome. The Mavericks’ efficient three-point shooting stretched the Lakers’ defense and opened scoring opportunities both inside and out.
In the first half, the Lakers excelled by driving to the basket. LeBron James and Anthony Davis created problems for the Mavericks’ defense. Their aggressive play led to high-percentage shots and forced double-teams, which opened up looks for jump shots.
However, this aggressiveness faded in the third quarter when Dallas went on an 18-5 run. The team settled for jump shots instead of attacking the paint, which allowed Dallas to build defensive momentum and focus on one-on-one matchups with James and Davis, avoiding double-teams.
To recover, the Lakers need to stay disciplined and focus on attacking the basket. Aggression will create better shots at the rim and open looks from the perimeter. Balancing their offense will improve shot selection and their three-point percentage.
Losing the Rebound Battle
The Lakers were out-rebounded on both ends of the court. This should not happen against a team missing key rebounders like Daniel Gafford and Luka Dončić.
Dallas dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to the Lakers’ 5. These second-chance opportunities added points and disrupted the Lakers’ defensive rhythm. The extra possessions forced LA to defend longer and hurt their momentum.
This lack of effort on the boards cost the Lakers both points and energy. To highlight the problem, Quentin Grimes came off the bench and grabbed 9ninerebounds—more than Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and Max Christie combined. One bench player out-rebounding three LA starters is a glaring issue.
Conclusion
The LakeShow has a lot to fix if they want to stay competitive. Improving rebounding and maintaining an aggressive offense are top priorities. This game serves as a wake-up call, emphasizing the need for effort, discipline, and sticking to effective strategies.
If the Lakers address these issues and capitalize on their strengths, they can turn things around and regain momentum as the season continues.
