GAME: L.A. Lakers Lakers (45-21) at Dallas Mavericks (44-23)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, March 18 - 8:30 PM EST
SPREAD: Dallas -6 TOTAL: 210
Source: Covers.com
The Dallas Mavericks haven't stood out recently from a crowded Western Conference playoff field - and with good reason: They haven't beaten another West contender since January.
The Mavericks will look to end a six-game slide against teams in the West playoff picture on Tuesday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers, who've lost two straight and will likely be without injured center Pau Gasol.
The Mavs have won five in a row to remain only 2 1/2 games behind the conference-leading Houston Rockets, but all five games have come against losing teams from the Eastern Conference. Dallas ' 44-23 record isn't even good enough for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Since acquiring point guard Jason Kidd from New Jersey before the NBA's trade deadline, Dallas is 9-0 against teams with losing records, but 0-5 against playoff teams after losses to New Orleans , San Antonio , the Lakers, Utah and Houston . Four of the five losses were on the road.
The Mavs last beat one of the top nine teams in the West on Jan. 27, when they beat Denver 90-85. They've since lost six straight against such teams, but will have two chances this week with home games against the Lakers (45-21) and San Antonio on Sunday.
In between, they host the NBA-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday.
"We feel like, at home, we should be ready," Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki said.
Nowitzki led the Mavs with 21 points in just 25 minutes in Dallas ' 98-73 win over the lowly Miami Heat on Sunday. None of the Mavs' starters played more than 27 minutes in the blowout - the team's fifth straight win by at least 19 points.
"I wanted to get this team to a point where we can get some momentum," Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. "... Things could change quite a bit in the Western Conference over the next week or 10 days."
Some of that change could depend on Gasol, who was healthy and scored 17 points when the Mavericks visited Los Angeles on March 2. Still, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant had 52 points in the Lakers' 108-104 overtime win.
Now that Gasol is out with a sprained ankle and not expected to play Tuesday, Bryant said he'll have to carry even more of the offense.
Gasol only played 2 1/2 minutes before he suffered the injury Friday in a 108-98 loss at New Orleans , as Bryant had 36 points. Bryant then attempted 33 shots - a season high in a non-overtime game - but made just 11 and had only 24 points in Sunday's 104-92 loss at Houston .
"Teams obviously can crowd the lane and go back to playing the type of defense against us that we've seen in the past," Bryant said. "What we have to do is focus on the defensive end a lot more. And I'll obviously have to shoulder more of the load."
The Lakers, in the midst of a four-game road trip against West contenders, were knocked out of first place in the conference Sunday as the Rockets extended their winning streak to 22 games. Los Angeles last lost three straight games in late January, with center Andrew Bynum injured and Gasol still on the Memphis Grizzlies.
That skid included a 112-105 loss at Dallas , a game the Lakers lost despite 40 points from Bryant and 56.3 percent shooting from the field.
Los Angeles has lost four straight games at Dallas and five of seven to the Mavs overall.
Other Lakers Mavericks News
Mavericks vs. Lakers 03/02/08
Mavericks News
Future Sports Star:
Kevin Love
Kevin Love has shown a skill level that is absolutely unheard of amongst big men in the college ranks—knocking down NBA 3-pointers with ease, putting the ball on the floor with either hand, using pump-fakes, spin-moves, jump-stops and creating his own shot with fantastic footwork. He’s rebounding the ball well, throwing beautiful outlet passes, contesting shots around the basket, and even coming up with a few blocks on occasion.
•Game 5 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Game 3 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Raptors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
•Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
•Preview: Knicks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Lakers Head to Seattle Without Injured Bynum
•Preview: Bucks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Cavaliers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bulls vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs Lakers 12/05/07
•Preview: Timberwolves vs Lakers 12/04/07
•Preview: Nuggets vs Lakers 11/29/07
•Preview: Sonics vs Lakers 11/27/07
•Spurs vs Lakers Preview 11/13/07
•Preview: New Orleans Hornets at L.A. Lakers
•Lakers vs Rockets Preview 12/12/06
•Lakers vs Spurs Preview 12/10/06
•Lakers Vs Hawks Preview 12/08/06
•Lakers Vs Pacers 12/04/06
•Lakers Vs Clippers Preview 12/02/06
•Lakers vs Jazz Preview 11-30-06
•Lakers vs Bucks preview 11/28/06
•Lakers vs Nets preview 11/26/06
•Lakers vs Jazz preview 11/24/06
•Lakers vs Clippers preview 11/21/06
•Lakers vs Bulls preview 11/18/06
•Lakers Vs Raptors Preview
•Lakers Vs Pistons Preview
•Lakers Vs Grizzlies Preview
•Lakers Vs Pistons Preview
•Timberwolves Vs Lakers Preview
•Lakers Vs SuperSonics Preview
• Lakers Vs SuperSonics Preview
• Lakers Vs Warriors Preview
• Lakers Vs Suns Preview
Jordan Farmar news:
•Rookie Farmar says he's living Hollywood dream with Lakers
• Grizzlies challenge Farmar
• Stars come out at Camp
• NBA considerations distant memory for pair of eager Cats
Kobe Bryant news:
•Kobe Bryant apologizes to Lakers GM
•Kobe Bryant Wins Scoring Title
•Kobe has most popular jersey in USA, China
•Bryant Proves the Best
•Wade beats Bryant for another Skills Challenge win
•Memorabilia Offered by Kobe Bryant and Upper Deck
•Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Suspended
•Why did Kobe change to 24?
•Kobe Bryant: Won't Play This Week
•Kobe Bryant to Collab with Lil Wayne
•Lakers' Kobe Bryant ready for another run as NBA season nears
•Kobe Bryant Dunk Videos
•Kobe Bryant Videos
•Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07 for PlayStation
•Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07
Los Angeles news:
• Los Angeles news
•Los Angeles Concerts news
• Beckham Signs with Los Angeles Galaxy
• Top 10 Most Valuable NBA Franchise
• 10 Ten things to do in Los Angeles
• Lower back spasms from the court.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Restaurants.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Experiences
JR Pinnock news:
• Lakers sign JR Pinnock
Smush Parker news:
• Smush Parker Basketball Camp
Staples Center news:
•Get up to the minute Los Angeles Concert tour news
•Garth Brooks To Play Staples Center Benefit Shows For Fire Victims
•Bon Jovi Staples Center
•Van Halen Staples Center Dec 14th
•Wild try to continue hot start in LA
•Hyundai Returns to X Games 13 Rally Car Racing
• Rumorville Eric Clapton to play the Staples Center
• Grady Brewer wins 'Contender 2' in a split decision over Steve Forbes
• Cirque comes the LA Staples Center
Phil Jackson news:
• Lakers coach Jackson fined US$25,000
• Phil Jackson to have hip surgery
|
