In one of many lowest moments of this Lakers season, the ball popped throughout the court docket to a spot behind the three-point line above the left elbow and Andrew Nembhard swished a game-winner.
That was Nov. 28, a recreation the Lakers needed to neglect.
They’ll give it some thought now.
“It’s like Indiana once more,” a dissatisfied Darvin Ham mentioned.
With a chance to realize treasured floor within the Western Convention playoff race, the Lakers once more noticed defeat handed to them with a last-second three from that very spot — this one with Maxi Kleber delivering the shot Friday night time.
“It sucks to say the least,” Austin Reaves mentioned.
The 111-110 loss Friday would’ve been depressing sufficient by itself, however with the crew having simply misplaced in Houston with Anthony Davis out for precautionary causes due to his foot damage earlier this yr, the Lakers are formally shifting within the incorrect course.
It’s the primary time the Lakers have misplaced consecutive video games in additional than a month.
“Should you don’t care about dropping video games which can be actually significant, what’s the purpose of taking part in?” Reaves mentioned.
The Lakers have been clear of their technique during the last month, prioritizing well being forward of the standings. With no restrictions, no back-to-back video games to carry anybody out, Friday, the Lakers simply had a chance.
Enjoying the Mavericks, a crew only a recreation forward of them within the standings coming into Friday’s recreation, the Lakers had an opportunity to make an actual transfer. Minnesota, Golden State, New Orleans and Portland all misplaced, giving the crew a treasured probability to realize floor.
They didn’t take it.
After trailing by as many as 14, the Lakers fought again to steer by 5 within the fourth earlier than the Mavericks mounted a comeback.
Three free throws from Kleber (after he was fouled on a 3 by Davis) made it a one-point recreation within the remaining minute.
Davis then cut up two free throws to provide the Mavericks an opportunity to both win or tie.
There could be no time beyond regulation, the Lakers forcing the ball out of Kyrie Irving’s palms, however Kleber stepped in and swished the shot because the horn sounded.
Davis completed with 26 factors and 10 rebounds and 5 different Lakers scored at the very least 10 on an evening the place the crew was badly outshot by Irving and the Mavericks from the three-point line.
Dallas made 11 extra threes than the Lakers, who additionally missed 12 free throws in opposition to simply 4 for the Mavericks, who have been with out Luka Doncic.
Irving scored 38 to steer Dallas.
After the loss, which moved the Lakers into the slightest of leads for the ultimate play-in spot forward of Utah, the Lakers mentioned they should play like a crew that wants all of them.
Dallas Mavericks gamers mob Maxi Kleber, heart, after his three-pointer on the remaining buzzer in opposition to the Lakers.
(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Related Press)
However with restrictions on whether or not Davis can play back-to-backs, that’s clearly tougher to do.
That technique has a value — and it’s one groups across the Western Convention appear keen to pay.
By emphasizing potential postseason well being as a substitute of regular-season wins, groups just like the Lakers, the Clippers and the Mavericks are probably sacrificing crucial video games in a packed playoff race.
It’s not utterly off the radar. Friday at shootaround, Dennis Schroder instructed reporters that he had his eyes on a particular place — exterior of the play-in event.
“I feel how we’re as a gaggle proper now, the chemistry, I feel, is in an ideal place,” Schroder mentioned. “Like I mentioned, we simply need to attempt to get the No. 6 seed, that’s our objective and our want. After which go from there.”
Lakers coach Darvin Ham, proper, talks to protect Dennis Schroder through the first half Friday.
(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Related Press)
Nonetheless, the No. 6 seed would open the playoffs on the highway.
Ham, who has greater than 25 years of NBA expertise as a participant and a coach, has seen a shift towards well being changing into an important factor for groups as they head into the postseason.
“I don’t suppose it’s utterly modified, however I do suppose well being takes priority over [seeding],” Ham mentioned earlier than Friday’s recreation. “ … And the playoffs, I don’t need to say it’s overrated, however you’re gonna need to win on the highway in some unspecified time in the future with a purpose to be world champions, so that you simply need to be strong, wholesome, assured and taking part in in a very good rhythm.
“And regardless of the place you play, you give your self an opportunity. However simply having residence court docket, I’ve seen groups a number of occasions, many, many postseasons have residence court docket benefit and it doesn’t matter, as a result of they gave up these residence video games.”
Historical past, although, says groups that need to struggle uphill within the playoffs are at an amazing drawback.
The 1995 Houston Rockets are the bottom seeded crew to win a title after starting these playoffs as sixth within the West.
The 1999 New York Knicks made the Finals because the eighth seed in a lockout-shortened season.
The Lakers’ seeding hopes aren’t individually tied as to whether Davis is or isn’t on the court docket on back-to-back video games (the Lakers play the Jazz and the Clippers of their remaining back-to-back of the yr).
LeBron James continues to progress, with Schroder saying he has seen James undergo a number of each day exercises in an effort to return.
Getting him again with time nonetheless on the season’s clock could be an enormous enhance.
Pregame, Ham warned in opposition to the crew wanting on the standings or setting particular win/loss targets of their remaining dozen video games.
“Every recreation is its personal entity, and we have to strategy it that approach,” Ham mentioned. “Ensuring we maximize and each day be certain we enhance as a lot as we are able to whereas nonetheless making an attempt to attain our objective. However simply need to take ’em one after the other.
“We will’t get overwhelmed the place we bought 12 left and we gotta get to that quantity [of wins], and also you begin overlooking issues. Our precedence has been to remain within the second and take ’em one after the other.”
Friday, although, it was the Mavericks who took it.
