Los Angeles Lakers stumble out of play-in position, now 11th in Western Conference

DALLAS — For the first time since the first week of the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves on the outside of the play-in tournament looking in after Tuesday night's 128-110 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Playing without LeBron James (left ankle sprain) and Anthony Davis (right mid-foot sprain), the Lakers trailed by as many as 37 points as Luka Doncic recorded a 30-point triple-double through the first three quarters (34 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists).

«We just didn't execute well enough and play with enough toughness, IQ, intelligence, focus and fight,» Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. «So, not acceptable and just a poor performance across the board. Coaches, players, everybody.»

L.A. is currently No. 11 in the Western Conference with seven games remaining. The Lakers, at 31-44, have the same record as the No. 10 San Antonio Spurs, but the Spurs own the tiebreaker.

Looking ahead to the final stretch, the Lakers have gone 4-10 against their six remaining opponents (they play the Denver Nuggets twice). The Spurs have gone 5-11 against their six remaining opponents (they play the Portland Trail Blazers twice). The Nuggets (45-31) are No. 6 in the Western Conference standings. The Blazers (27-48) are No. 12 and will be out their star, Damian Lillard, for the rest of the season.

Vogel said James and Davis will both be re-evaluated Thursday to determine their availability for L.A.'s game against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. Davis, who has been sidelined since Feb. 16, is targeting a return by Friday at home against the No. 9 New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN.

Tuesday was about as bad as it has been for the Lakers in a season already full of disappointment. The 82 points they allowed in the first