Things got so disjointed for the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers that superstar point guard Luka Doncic ripped his jersey in frustration.
Even head coach Rick Carlisle drew his first ejection of the season early in the fourth quarter after he didn’t agree with the officials’ decision to grant the Lakers a timeout so they could challenge a play long after the Mavs had inbounded the ball.
It was that kind of off-centered night for the Mavs, who dropped a 129-114 decision to the Lakers before an American Airlines Center sellout crowd of 20,542.
In losing for the fifth time in their last seven games, the Mavs dropped to 23-15 entering Saturday’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers (31-7) led by 18 after the first quarter when they scored 45 points. And they led by 21 points at halftime when they scored 79 points.
It was the most points the Mavs have allowed in the first quarter all season, and the most points they’ve allowed in any half this season.
Doncic, who finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, said he ripped his jersey out of frustration.
“I wasn’t playing good,” Doncic said. “I played very bad. I feel like I don’t know how to play basketball. It wasn’t me, and I’ve got to get better.”
Other than when they chipped away at the Lakers’ 24-point lead and sliced it down to 91-81 late in the third quarter, the Mavs appeared as though they were a step slow all night. Plus, they had no answer for LeBron James.
Arguably the best player in the world, James scored 35 points, pulled down 16 rebounds and handed out seven assists, and Kyle Kuzma added 26 points and six boards. Between those two players, plus the Mavs spending the majority of the night playing from behind, it was a tough go for the Mavs.
“It’s self-explanatory out there,” Tim Hardaway Jr. said. “We’re the guys out there on the floor that have to go out there and compete.
“I know (Carlisle) likes to put some of the game on him, but this is on us as a team and as a ballclub. We just got to be better.”
For Carlisle, things reached a boiling point early in the fourth quarter when the Mavs tossed the ball inbounds, but the officials stopped the action when they decided to grant the Lakers a timeout. Lakers coach Frank Vogel ultimately challenged a play, Carlisle drew his second technical and automatic ejection and then took off his coat on the way to the locker room.
After the play was reviewed, the officials gave the ball to the Mavs.
“I thought since we had the ball in bounds, and we were dribbling it over half court that it wasn’t appropriate that they were able to call a timeout to challenge, and the official let him do it. I think they may have changed the call after I took my coat off and stopped out of there, but the officials aren’t perfect.
“In the leadership position you have to stand up for your guys. There are some things going on out there that are quite frankly shocking, and our guys are going through a rough time because of it. I have to stand up and defend them. That’s another part of my job and I’m going to do it. And I’ll do it again tomorrow.”
Hardaway said he and his teammates appreciate Carlisle sticking up for them during difficult times in a game.
“Any time your coach can do that you want to go out there and fight for him no matter what,” said Hardaway, who finished with 22 points and seven boards. “It showed today that he has our backs.
“That goes a long way in today’s game. Just for hm to stick up for us, it says a lot. It shows that he cares and that he wants the best out of his ballclub.”
Boban Marjanovic gave the Mavs a lift with 14 points and 10 rebounds. And Seth Curry tallied 16 points, and Dorian Finney-Smith added 13 points and six boards.
Doncic, though, took this loss hard, as he does all losses.
“I’ve got to get better at a lot of points,” he said. “I know I can get better. I’m 20 years old. There’s a lot of things that I can do better. I can learn better, so l’ve got to get better.”
Carlisle, however, went to Doncic’s defense.
“When I was 20 years old, I was walking around as a freshman at the University of Maine,” Carlisle said. “I didn’t know whether to (use the restroom) or wipe my wristwatch, and this guy is a second-year player and he’s going to be a starter in the All-Star Game. I think we have to understand that he’s still young.
“He’s mature beyond his years in terms of how he sees the game and his skill-set and how he can do things out on the floor, but we’re going through a rough stretch right now and everybody needs to try to keep their emotions in check. When we do get frustrated, channel that frustration toward the team and each other. Keep each other up and keep fighting. That’s what we have to do. It’s a murderous stretch.”
The stretch continues with Saturday’s game against the Sixers.
“Thankfully in this league there’s always another opportunity,” Hardaway said. “So we’ll move on from this and get ready for tomorrow against Philly.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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