Following the Mavericks' latest loss to the lowly Charlotte Hornets on Friday in Dallas, Luka Dončić did not hold back his annoyance with the team's recent run of form.

Dallas has now lost three games in a row, with two of those losses coming since Dončić returned from injury.

"It's really frustrating," Dončić said after the 117-109 defeat at American Airlines Center. "I think you can see it with me on the court. Sometimes I don't feel it's me. I'm just being out there, you know? I used to have really fun smiling on court, but it's just been so frustrating for a lot of reasons, not just basketball."

The Mavericks have slipped all the way down to the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference at 36-38 after they were the No. 6 seed on March 19. But that's just how things are at the moment in the bundled-up middle section of the conference.

They would miss out on the playoffs and play-in tournament if the season were to end today—a shocking development considering that this was a team that made it to the conference finals last year.

Friday's game was a new low for Dallas, as it lost to a team that is already eliminated from playoff contention and that is without its star player in LaMelo Ball. It also lost to the Golden State Warriors at home Wednesday, and they are one of the worst road teams in the league (9-29).

Things just haven't been clicking for the organization since it traded for All-Star guard Kyrie Irving on Feb. 6, winning only seven of the 19 games since the deal.

The pairing of Dončić and the 2016 NBA champion hasn't been what everyone expected.

"So what?... Irving said of fans booing the team Friday. "You obviously want to play well, but you it's only five people on the court that can play for Dallas Mavericks. If the fans wanna change places, then hey, be my guest. Got years of work ahead to be great enough to be on this level."

With eight games remaining in its season, things are going to have to change quickly if Dallas wants to make a run.