Maxi Kleber lifts the Mavericks and beats the Lakers by 3 on the buzzer

In one of the most difficult moments of this Lakers In the season, the ball went over the court and went over the three-point line over the left elbow, and Andrew Nembhard hit the winning shot.

It was November. The 28th game the Lakers wanted to forget about.

They will think about it now.

“It’s like Indiana all over again” – disappointed Darwin Ham said.

With the opportunity to secure a precious spot in the Western Conference playoff race, the Lakers were defeated again, scoring a last-second triple from the same spot—this time with Maxi Kleber Delivery shot Friday night.

“It sucks to say the least” Austin Reeves said.

111-110 loss Friday would have been miserable enough on its own, but the team just lost in Houston. Anthony Davis out for safety reasons due to his leg injury earlier this year, the Lakers are officially heading in the wrong direction.

The Lakers lost in a row for the first time in over a month.

“If you don’t care about losing the really big games, what’s the point of playing?” Reeves said.

Over the past month, the Lakers have stuck to their strategy, prioritizing health over the standings. With no limits, no back-to-back games to hold anyone up, the Lakers just had an opportunity on Friday.

Playing for the Mavericks, the team is one game ahead standings Before Friday’s game, the Lakers had a chance to make a real move. Minnesota, Golden State, New Orleans and Portland everything is lostgiving the team a precious chance to gain a foothold.

They didn’t take it.

Trailing by a full 14 points, the Lakers bounced back to take a lead with five in the fourth before the Mavericks returned.

Kléber’s three free throws (after Davis fouled on a treble) made for a one-point game in the final minute.

Davis then split two free throws to give the Mavericks a chance to either win or tie.

No overtime, Lakers kick the ball out Kyrie Irvinghands, but Kléber intervened and fired as the horn sounded.

Davis finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and five other Lakers scored at least 10 points on the night as Irving and the Mavericks trailed the team heavily from the three-point line.

Dallas hit 11 more triples than the Lakers, who also missed 12 free throws to just four for the Mavericks. Luka Doncic.

Irving scored 38 points and became the leader of Dallas.

After a loss that sent the Lakers to the lead in the final play-in to Utah, the Lakers said they needed to play like the team that needs them all.

Dallas Mavericks attack Maxi Kleber (center) after his 3-pointer.

Dallas Mavericks players attack Maxi Kleber (center) after his three-pointer in the final game against the Lakers.

(Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)

But with restrictions on whether Davis can play two in a row, it’s obviously harder to do so.

This strategy comes with a price – and it looks like one of the teams in the Western Conference is willing to pay.

By highlighting potential postseason health instead of regular season victories, teams like the Lakers, Clippers, and Mavericks are potentially sacrificing important games in a tight playoff race.

It’s not completely out of sight. Friday at the gunfight Dennis Schroeder told reporters that he had his eye on a specific place – outside the play-in of the tournament.

“I think we’re as a band right now, the chemistry, I think, is in the perfect place,” Schroeder said. “Like I said, we just have to try to get No. 1. 6 seeds, that’s our goal and our desire. And then get out of there.”

Lakers coach Darwin Ham (right) talks to defenseman Dennis Schroeder during Friday's first half.

Lakers coach Darwin Ham (right) talks to defenseman Dennis Schroeder during Friday’s first half.

(Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)

However, no. 6 seeds will open the playoffs on the road.

Ham, who has over 25 years of NBA experience as a player and coach, believes the transition to health becomes the most important thing for teams as they enter the postseason.

“I don’t think it’s completely changed, but I think health comes first. [seeding]”, Ham said before Friday’s game. “… And the playoffs, I don’t want to say it’s overrated, but at some point you have to win away to become world champions, so you just have to be strong, healthy, self-confident. and play in a good rhythm.

“And wherever you play, you give yourself a chance. But just having home court, I’ve seen teams many, many postseasons have home court advantage, and it doesn’t matter because they’ve given up on those home games.”

However, history suggests that teams that have to struggle in the playoffs are at a huge disadvantage.

The 1995 Houston Rockets are the lowest seeded team to win the title after starting the playoffs in sixth place in the West.

The 1999 New York Knicks advanced to the Finals, finishing eighth in a lockout-shortened season.

The Lakers’ seeding hopes are not individually tied to whether Davis is on the court in two consecutive games (the Lakers play the Jazz and Clippers in the last game of the year in a row).

LeBron James continues to improve and Schroeder said he saw James doing several daily workouts in an attempt to come back.

If he came back with time on the season’s clock, that would be a huge boost.

Before the game, Ham warned that the team should not look at the standings or set specific win/loss goals in the last dozen games.

“Every game is a separate entity and we have to approach it that way,” Ham said. “Make sure we maximize, and make sure every day that we improve as much as we can while still trying to reach our goal. But you just need to take them one at a time.

“We can’t be overloaded with 12 left and we have to get to that number. [of wins]and you start to lose sight of things. Our priority was to stay in the moment and take them one by one.”

However, the Mavericks won on Friday.