DONCIC, MAVERICKS SUFFER ANOTHER COSTLY LOSS TO HORNETS

 DONCIC, MAVERICKS SUFFER ANOTHER COSTLY LOSS TO HORNETS

The Dallas Mavericks' playoff hopes took another hit on Sunday night as they fell to the Charlotte Hornets 108-99, marking their second straight loss to the struggling team. And once again, the Mavs' star player Luka Doncic was left frustrated.

Doncic, who has been dealing with a nagging injury, had a solid game with 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, but it wasn't enough to lift his team to victory. The Hornets, led by LaMelo Ball's 22 points, were able to hold off the Mavs down the stretch and secure the win.

This loss puts the Mavericks in a tough position as they battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. They currently sit in 7th place, but with several teams nipping at their heels, every game is crucial from here on out.

The Mavs will need to regroup quickly as they face a tough stretch of games, including matchups against the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and Milwaukee Bucks.

It's clear that the team needs more from players outside of Doncic if they want to make a deep playoff run this season. The trade deadline has come and gone, so it will be up to head coach Rick Carlisle to figure out how to get the most out of his current roster.

One thing is for sure, the Mavericks cannot afford to suffer any more costly losses like this one to the Hornets. They need to get back on track and start stringing together some wins if they want to have a chance at making noise in the playoffs.