Fresh off coming back from 21 points down against the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks decided to mimic the Warriors' efforts by blowing a 21-point lead to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The final score read 109-104 in Dallas' favor. However, the same problem that bears culpability in Dallas' 21-point deficit against Golden State in the first half of Sunday night's game, contributed to the unnecessarily close second half of Tuesday night's game.

Turnovers.

In the third frame, where Los Angeles dominated 31-14, Dallas racked up seven of its final 13 turnovers. A situation that was starkly similar to when Dallas forked over 11 turnovers in the first half against Golden State.

Turnovers, uncharacteristically, have been Dallas' bugaboo in the last two games. When playing Golden State, turnovers should be expected. The Warriors have the top defense in the league when measured by defensive rating (104.8). But when playing the Lakers, offensive struggles are concerning.

Los Angeles ranks 15th in defensive rating and 26th in opponent points off turnovers. They are old. They are inefficient. And they struggle to keep younger teams out of transition and in front of them on a nightly basis. Yet, for a quarter, Dallas' ineffective offense made Los Angeles look like a competent defensive team.

Nonetheless, a win is a win, right? Well, not necessarily.

Does a win over Los Angeles mean anything?

A win over Los Angeles early in the season held some credible weight. Now, it just highlights the drastic differences between Dallas and Los Angeles.

While Dallas heads in the direction of contention in the Western Conference, Los Angeles will be lucky to hold on to a play-in spot. As Doncic's play has neared MVP buzz, LeBron James and his team continue to fragment amid adversity. Where Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith find success, Russell Westbrook and Talen Horton-Tucker find apparent failure.

Beating Los Angeles, and blowing a 21-point lead in the process, isn't a 'telling' win. It's just a win. But in the Lakers' dysfunction, Doncic and Co. can learn a thing or three: success resides in the leadership of Doncic, team defense determines the outcome of contests, and nothing can make up for heart when all the chips are on the table.

Doncic functioned as a calming hand in the fourth quarter, when the game could have gone either way. James picked him up on defense with less than a few minutes remaining, and Doncic called for an isolation. It takes two to tango. After a series of between the legs dribbles, Doncic turned the corner on James and flicked a shot over the outstretched hand of a hapless Lakers defender. It was good the moment it left his hand.

Doncic's skill gives voice to his eminence. His patience in the clutch gives weight to his tact in key moments. With the ball in his hands, he's an artist, and the court is his canvas. He stared down LeBron, and he didn't blink. But such is the burden of greatness. And every one of his 25 points felt needed.

A functional defensive fourth quarter 

Outside of Doncic's leadership on the offensive end in the fourth quarter, Dallas tightened the screws when it came to limiting the Lakers' quality looks down the stretch.

Dallas held Los Angeles to 17 points in the final frame. And the team's efforts warranted a "defense wins championships" from Doncic after the game. In some respects, he's right. Holding James to six points on 3-7 from the field hampered Los Angeles' ability to generate worthwhile possessions.

Forcing Westbrook to shoot the ball took him out of the game. And mixing in some zone defense made Los Angeles adjust before it wanted to.

Beating the Lakers may not mean as much as it once did, and losing a 21-point lead in the process is a cause for concern, but a 4-1 road trip record is something worthwhile.

Next up is Golden State in Dallas on Thursday — we'll see if there is another blown 21-point lead.

Related Dallas Mavericks reading 

"Mavericks: Spencer Dinwiddie is not saving his best for later, he is using it now." 

"Mavericks: Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans provide value in playoff-like loss to Utah." 

Feature image via Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports.