Three Things to Know: Could the Lakers miss even the play-in?

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This loss would have gotten Frank Vogel fired at points this season.

“I’m really lost for words,” said Dwight Howard, who is never at a loss for words and is the unrelenting positive force around these Lakers. He didn’t just say that once, he said it half a dozen times in various forms after the Lakers reached a new low point in what has been a season of new low points, a dispiriting 123-95 loss to the Pelicans Sunday.

That’s the Pelicans who have now surged into a tie with Portland for the No. 10 seed and the final play-in spot in the West — both teams are 2.5 games back of the No. 9 seed Lakers (3 in the loss column) with 22 games to play. The San Antonio Spurs are 3.5 games back of Los Angeles.

It is possible — not likely, but possible — that some combination of the Pelicans, Blazers, and Spurs pass the Lakers and leave Los Angeles on the outside looking in at even the play-in. That is the preseason betting favorite to come out of the West we’re talking about. Fivethirtyeight.com predicts New Orleans will pass Los Angeles for the No. 9 seed, and the Lakers and Spurs will finish 34-48 and tied for 10th and the last play-in spot.

The Lakers’ play and body language Sunday night looked like that of a broken team — one that would have a hard time winning seven more games this season to get to 34 wins (even once Anthony Davis returns). If one play summed up the night, it was this one from DeAndre Jordan.

This DeAndre Jordan pass