LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were expected to score a win on Tuesday night against a Luka Doncic-less and Kyrie Irving-less Dallas Mavericks side. They failed to do so in embarrassing fashion as the shorthanded Mavs ended up blowing out the Lakers at American Airlines Center, 118-97. 

NBA on TNT provided coverage for Tuesday’s contest, which meant that Charles Barkley and the crew had the opportunity to share their thoughts on the game. Barkley, in particular, had a strong message about the Lakers’ latest loss. 

He did not hold back. 

“The Lakers proved to what I keep saying: the Lakers stink, plain and simple,” Barkley started. “… The Lakers are not a good team. They got zero athletic ability.” 

To further highlight the Lakers’ misery, Kenny Smith pointed out that the Mavs came into this game riding a five-game losing streak. Ernie Johnson chimed in, saying that Dallas had lost 10 games in a row with Doncic and Irving out. 

Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal admitted that he thought it would be LeBron and Co. who would come out and dominate the game. What happened, though, was the exact opposite as P.J Washington (22 points, eight rebounds) and Quentin Grimes (23 points, nine rebounds, six assists) led the Mavs to an unexpected lopsided victory. 

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James

© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Lakers, who have now lost back-to-back games after Sunday’s 119-115 defeat against the Houston Rockets, will need to collect themselves quickly after this deflating defeat. They are back in action on Thursday in a home game against the Charlotte Hornets.