The Los Angeles Lakers were hoping to bounce back on Thursday after a 122-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday that ended their five-game winning streak.
Instead, they fell in double overtime to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, 119-115, in a grind-it-out affair that seemed like an uphill battle all night.
LeBron James shot 9-of-28, and as a team, L.A. was wretched offensively, shooting 39.3% overall and 24.4% from 3-point range.
Some Lakers fans blamed the referees: They believed there were some non-calls that went against the Purple and Gold. Among them was an alleged non-call when Troy Brown Jr. missed what would’ve been the game-winning trey at the end of regulation while appearing to get hacked.
Fans across Twitter reacted to the Lakers’ gut-wrenching loss in multiple ways.
Lakers fans: refs screwed us. While Mavs had 10 less free throws and 8 more fouls called against them lol
— SEND PORTIS TO MAVS (@MAVSMFFLFAN) January 13, 2023
Refs Rob Lakers of a Win over Mavs – Fixed your headline.
— Robert M. (@Chelsea_Mod) January 13, 2023
Should have fouled Luka before the 3's to send it OT, no plan. You foul he shoots 2 and you probably have a better chance.
— Clark🔻 (@theLIEinbelieve) January 13, 2023
I don't understand why Schroder was guarding Luka in crunch time 🤦🏾♂️
— Adam (@Adam_son_of_Man) January 13, 2023
Its why the Lakers are below 500 it ain’t because of the others. They do their job, keeping games close, he and Russ and AD are suppose to close games out and let’s face it. Total failure. https://t.co/nhiMPirNZJ
— Rick Foruox (@raffzx) January 13, 2023
The Lakers have lost like 5-6 games now they would've won if not for a buzzer beater, missed free throws or no calls.
This team is better than it's record despite the limited roster, LeBron being 500 years old & Anthony Davis breaking his foot against air.
— Barry (@BarryOnHere) January 13, 2023
The past 2 games.. Lakers stopped running the ball.. fast pace game gave us 5 Ws.. can't win too many games at half court setting.
— Lakers4Life (@LakersOldForum) January 13, 2023
Yes that was so obvious
— Mikehunt (@Tatumofjayson0) January 13, 2023
REFS VS LAKERS, THEY DON’T WANNA SEE US WIN
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) January 13, 2023
Blatant? He got all ball
— The Klaw’s Mistress (@WizardsGotNext) January 13, 2023
He high fived him after the shot, Brown Jr tried to sell it instead of focusing on the shot pic.twitter.com/MIi7ljQRuE
— Hassan 🇸🇴 (@TherealHassanO) January 13, 2023
He couldn’t follow through wit the fingers, the ball got no spin. It’s a foul 🕵🏾
— Jay 😎 (@J_Money_33) January 13, 2023
