Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts after his team’s 118-97 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks, a game marked by poor defense and inconsistent shooting. The Lakers struggled to contain Dallas, especially in the second half, where they were outscored and outplayed.

“We couldn’t get stops. They killed us with any ISO stuff,” Redick said postgame. “We talked this morning just about not giving up ISO threes, and we gave two up in the first quarter.” Despite adjusting their defensive approach, the Lakers’ rotations were off, leaving open shots and easy scoring opportunities for the Mavericks.

Redick highlighted the team’s inability to stop the Mavericks’ perimeter shooting, especially in the second half. “We cut it to five, and then they made four straight threes,” Redick added. “We just couldn’t execute what we were trying to do.” His frustration was evident as the Lakers seemed unable to adjust mid-game.

Energy also seemed to be an issue for the Lakers. “It felt like we played a little tired tonight. They were the tougher team and dictated the game,” Redick noted. “Lack of shot-making affected our energy. We were 8-for-16 at the rim and 5-for-19 from three in the first half.” The Lakers’ shooting struggles were compounded by their inability to stop the Mavericks on the other end.

Quentin Grimes led the Mavericks to victory, posting 26 points, nine rebounds, and six assists while making six of his 11 three-point attempts. Despite missing superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Dallas shot 52% from the field and 47.4% from three-point range, draining 18 threes on the night.

The Lakers were led by Anthony Davis, who recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds, and LeBron James, who added 18 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. However, the Lakers’ offensive execution faltered. They struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 31.4%, and their bench contributed only 25 points in total.

Dallas, on the other hand, received significant contributions from their bench, which outscored the Lakers’ 50-25. Grimes and Jaden Hardy combined for 38 points, and Spencer Dinwiddie added 19 points and eight assists. The Mavericks also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Lakers 44-33.

Despite the defeat, the Lakers will aim to bounce back in their next matchup against the Sacramento Kings. The loss dropped Los Angeles to 20-16 on the season and raised questions about their defensive consistency and offensive execution.