Here is a by-the-numbers look at the Lakers’ 100-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
6
L.A.’s lead with 6:30 remaining in the game. However, the Lakers continued their recent fourth-quarter struggles, as Dallas closed out on a 16-3 run. The Mavericks grounded L.A.’s offense, which shot just 1-for-7 from the field with six turnovers from that point on. Meanwhile, Dallas went 5-for-10 on its end to seal the contest.
Lakers Shot Chart (Final 6:30)
“We have to slow down and take good shots,” Wesley Johnson said. “We aren’t getting quality shots towards the end of the game. We’re shooting deep in the shot clock; always kind of late and throwing a shot up. We have to come out and be poised and try to get stops at the end of the game.”
7
Turnovers by Dallas. The Mavericks were extremely cautious with the ball, as they gave it away nine fewer times than L.A. Dallas also had only two turnovers in the fourth quarter, while Al-Farouq Aminu led the entire way on the defensive end. The UCLA product hounded the Lakers with a career-high six steals.
14.3
Percentage shot by the Lakers on 3-pointers. L.A. went just 2-for-14 from beyond the arc, marking the first time it made so few triples on so many attempts since Feb. 9, 2012 against Boston (1-for-15). Wayne Ellington had an especially rough night with the three-ball, as he went just 1-for-7 from deep.
31
Points scored by Monta Ellis. It initially appeared that Ellis would continue his post-All-Star game slump, as he scored five points on 2-for-5 shooting in the first half. However, the 29-year-old fired up in the third quarter, dropping 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Ellis then concluded his performance with eight fourth-quarter points, including six in the final four minutes.
“It was a breathtaking half of basketball,” Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said. “He showed a lot of persistence and wherewithal to hang in there after a rough first half. It was big getting him back on track. It was big getting another win. It’s been a rough road, but if it ain’t rough, it ain’t right. That’s how the Western Conference is.”
Monta Ellis Shot Chart (Second Half)
Said Ellis: “Sometimes I can be my own enemy when I go to the basket and don’t get the calls that I think I should get. I get kind of frustrated and lose my game a little bit. Tonight, I just wanted to be aggressive, and if they call it they call it.”
46
Points scored by the Lakers in the paint. Led by 12 points in that area from Carlos Boozer, L.A. outscored the Mavericks by 16 in the key. The Lakers were also strong down low on the boards, boasting a 47-33 rebounding advantage, thanks in part to eight boards apiece from Boozer and Ed Davis, who led all players.
Davis Cleans Up the Glass