The Los Angeles Lakers blew a five-point lead within the final minutes but atoned for it in overtime and came away with a 106-101 win over the Dallas Mavericks. By doing so, L.A. extended their season-best winning streak to four games.
Additionally, the Lakers snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Mavericks. Prior to Saturday, their last win against them came April 2, 2013, and the last time they had won in Dallas was Feb. 24, 2013, when Kobe Bryant scored 38 points on 13-for-21 shooting, and famously responded to Mavericks owner Mark Cuban’s criticism with, ‘Amnesty THAT.’
Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle combined for nine of the Lakers’ 12 points in overtime. Overall, Clarkson and Randle were responsible for 42 points, with Clarkson’s 19 leading all reserves.
The game reached that juncture in part because Kentavious Caldwell-Pope split a pair of free throws with 12 seconds remaining, which led to the Mavericks forcing overtime on Harrison Barnes’ game-tying basket.
The Lakers had a final possession to win on a buzzer-beater but Randle lost control of the ball, leading to a poor shot attempt. Randle otherwise enjoyed a homecoming in a strong bounce-back effort from the first scoreless game of his career.
Randle exploited a mismatch with Harrison Barnes to the tune of 10 points in the first quarter, connecting on his first four attempts. Randle went on to notch a double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds. If there was an area to be critical of, however, he led the team with seven turnovers.
An all-around effort from Brandon Ingram was also instrumental to the Lakers jumping out to an early lead, but his afternoon was ultimately cut short. Ingram went to the locker room to have his left ankle re-taped after tweaking it in the first quarter.
Ingram played three minutes in the second quarter before retreating to the trainer’s room a few minutes prior to halftime. The Lakers at that point announced the second-year forward was ruled out ruled out due to a mild left ankle sprain.
Ingram made both of his shot attempts and finished with four points, six rebounds and five assists in 14 minutes of action. A timetable is not yet known for Ingram’s return.
For as strong of a start as the Lakers got off to, the second quarter negated it. Their once 11-point lead evaporated as the Mavericks’ second unit went on a 25-6 run to take a nine-point lead.
Dennis Smith Jr. scored a team-high 23 points, while Wesley Matthews and Barnes each had 17, and Dwight Powell scored 13 off the bench.
Kyle Kuzma had 13 points on 6-for-6 shooting before consecutive misses late in the third quarter. He went on to finish with 18 points and 10 rebounds, making multiple key baskets in the fourth quarter.
WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION? CHECK OUT THE NEW LAKERS NATION FORUM CLUB
