With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving out nursing their respective injuries, the Lakers were expected to pick an easy victory over the struggling Mavericks. However, in a surprising turn of events, not only did the hosts emerge victorious, but they rattled the star-studded Lakers side by a humiliating 118-97 margin at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday. With the win, the Dallas Mavericks have ended the woeful run of losses, which extended to 5 games.
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Charles Barkley Chides the Lakers Over Subdued Performance
Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis had a subdued showcase and consequently, the team left yearning for an inspirational cameo. Los Angeles Lakers' overwhelming loss has left former MVP Charles Barkley extremely vexed. Barkley thrashed the performance of the Lakers following the culmination of the game on Inside the NBA.
"The Lakers proved what I’ve kept saying. The Lakers stink, plain and simple.” Chuck even went on to say that the Lakers are only relevant because of the media's incessant interest in the team, and in reality, their on-court display isn't worth any heed.
The NBA legend did not stop right there, he further said that the Lakers lack athletic ability, and their flaws are perceptible and exploitable. Barkley then shifted his attention towards the Mavericks and praised coach Jason Kidd for putting on a "masterpiece" despite missing two of his premier players- Doncic and Irving. Ahead of the game, the Lakers were the undisputed favourites and the popular assertion was that the LeBron James side will record a resounding win. Since, the opposite has transpired therefore an inundation of opinions is flowing.
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Kenny Smith Did Not Spare the Lakers
After Charles Barkley, it was the turn of Kenny Smith to analyse the Lakers' game. He also did not hold back from blasting the team. Smith said, “You can’t give the excuse you didn’t know the game plan because these guys stepped up.” The 21-point loss will go down as one of their worst losses this season as not only it has come against a team that was severely struggling with the burden of five consecutive losses but also because they had to defy the adversity without the presence of their star players.