GDT: Mavs @ Lakers 01/26/16 9:30pm CT - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Underdog · 01-26-2016, 12:25 PM

Though they've engaged in their share of scoring duels over the past 17 years, Dirk Nowitzki's Dallas Mavericks have had the upper hand on Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers in recent seasons.

The future Hall of Famers will face each other one last time as the visiting Mavericks try to avoid matching their longest skid of the season and extend a nine-game winning streak in this series Tuesday night.

Nowitzki and the retiring Bryant are the NBA's top two active scoring leaders, with Bryant ranking third on the all-time list with 33,084 points and Nowitzki sixth at 28,863.

Bryant helped the Lakers win 34 of 49 meetings when both played from the time Nowitzki entered the league in 1998-99 through 2012-13. Bryant had 62- and 52-point performances in that span.

Nowitzki averaged 25.3 -- two points better than Bryant -- in Dallas' sweep during their only postseason meeting in the 2011 Western Conference semifinals.

Nowitzki has posted seven 30-point games against Los Angeles, though his 20.9 average versus the Lakers is among his lowest marks against any team. However, the Mavericks' nine-game run is their longest in the history of the series, a streak aided by Bryant playing in only three of those contests due to injury.

Nowitzki had 25 points and nine rebounds while Bryant was held to 15 and went 3 of 15 from the field in Dallas' 103-93 win Nov. 1, the most recent meeting at Staples Center. Nowitzki was then limited to nine points on 4-of-13 shooting in the Mavericks' 90-82 victory Nov. 13, with Bryant scoring 19 in his last game at Dallas.

"It was just two old guys having fun," Bryant said after that contest. "I was trying to catch him before he got too high because he's too damn tall."

They'll go at it one last time as the Mavericks (25-21) try to avoid losing three in a row for the first time since Nov. 22-25.

"It's always great to see (Bryant)," Nowitzki said. "He's a legend."

Chandler Parsons had a season-high 31 points but Dallas struggled defensively in Sunday's 115-104 loss at Houston. It's been a disturbing trend of late, with the Mavericks giving up 108.6 per game in their last five.

Parsons has averaged 29.0 points while making 12 of 18 from 3-point range in his last three. He's scored only 11 points over the two games against the Lakers this season, though.

Zaza Pachulia has missed three of the past eight games due to injury, but the center, who's totaled 34 points and 28 rebounds in the season series, is expected to return after sitting out Sunday.

Dallas hasn't had much trouble slowing down the Lakers (9-37), limiting them to 34.7 percent shooting in the two meetings. Jordan Clarkson, though, has a 26-point effort and a 21-point game among his last three against Dallas.

D'Angelo Russell scored 21 points in Saturday's 121-103 loss at Portland and has totaled 39 in his past two games. Russell and Julius Randle, however, were reportedly criticized by Bryant in the locker room for poor effort in Los Angeles' sixth straight defeat.

The Lakers have given up 113.0 points per game during their slide.

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828570

DevinHarriswillstart · 01-26-2016, 01:33 PM

Harris likely out with left foot injury...ugh.

CGM · 01-26-2016, 02:32 PM

People say that the top fact of life is that we will all die someday... however, the true top life fact is that these Laektners will never beat the Mavs.... as a matter of fact, the Mavs' bench will play major minutes tonight and dominate the Laektners easily.

Mavs - 108
Laektners - 98

DirkFTW · 01-26-2016, 06:02 PM

Kobe that is.

Wocka wocka!

Underdog · 01-26-2016, 08:51 PM

@BaxterHolmes: Kobe Bryant (sore right shoulder) will not play tonight, the Lakers say.

Welp, that's that... Looks like Kobe has already played his final game against the Mavs.

Underdog · 01-26-2016, 09:48 PM

@ESefko: Zaza Pachulia also out tonight vs Lakers.

Bryan_Wilson · 01-26-2016, 09:58 PM

-Harris
-Mayor Zaza

That's 8+ wins we are missing.
http://www.boxscoregeeks.com/teams/dal?season=2015

Lakers -Kobe... they are 3 wins better without him.
http://www.boxscoregeeks.com/teams/lal?season=2015

EricaLubarsky · 01-26-2016, 10:18 PM

Kobe out.

Lakers may actually put up a fight now

yahyes · 01-26-2016, 10:28 PM

Errr kobe isn't going away. Yah sure it's last time playing basketball against us. But watch him try to be coach for the lakers...

Mavs gotta let some frustration out after the last 2 games.

CGM · 01-26-2016, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Dallas Mavericks ‏@dallasmavs 5m5 minutes ago
Yo, Mavs fans. @bobbykaralla here. I'll be joining you tonight. Salah Mejri starts for Dallas -- he's had a dbl-dbl in every career start.

...Mavs win by 82 points!

yahyes · 01-26-2016, 10:42 PM

Practice for Mejri though. Let's go.

Bryan_Wilson · 01-26-2016, 10:43 PM

Parsons pulling up from mid range like that is rly something I want to see more.

jleefilled · 01-26-2016, 10:47 PM

Parsons is killing it

turin · 01-26-2016, 10:48 PM

I love Sala's energy. Very active player.

Bryan_Wilson · 01-26-2016, 10:50 PM

Never seen Parsons as aggressive as hes been last few games. Not with Houston, not here.

turin · 01-26-2016, 10:50 PM

I like Dirk coming out and Sala remaining when Mavs went with the 3 guard lineup.

Vinsanity · 01-26-2016, 10:51 PM

I freaking love Parsons and Mejri. Didn't think I'd be saying that a week ago.

turin · 01-26-2016, 10:56 PM

Everybody gets and hits uncontested 3's against the Mavs. SMH

Bryan_Wilson · 01-26-2016, 11:00 PM

SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMBAAAAAAAAA

turin · 01-26-2016, 11:03 PM

Nice block McGee! Mejri-McGee center rotation tonight! Looking forward to it.

Underdog · 01-26-2016, 11:04 PM

How dafuq did our center position get so strong when that was supposedly our biggest weakness coming into the season?

turin · 01-26-2016, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

How dafuq did our center position get so strong when that was supposedly our biggest weakness coming into the season?

+100

DGM · 01-26-2016, 11:08 PM

RC doesn't think it's strong. He sits McGee for entire games.

Underdog · 01-26-2016, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGM

RC doesn't think it's strong. He sits McGee for entire games.

Only so many minutes to go around... And Zaza having a career season and narrowly missing out as a starter for the All-Star game doesn't exactly support our assertion that Rick was wrong.

DGM · 01-26-2016, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Only so many minutes to go around... And Zaza having a career season and narrowly missing out as a starter for the All-Star game doesn't exactly support our assertion that Rick was wrong.

He sat him for Powell on Sunday. Powell stunk and McGee sat.

turin · 01-26-2016, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Only so many minutes to go around... And Zaza having a career season and narrowly missing out as a starter for the All-Star game doesn't exactly support our assertion that Rick was wrong.

Agree, but I prefer that he forgo using Dirk and Powell at the 5 because of defensive liability. Stick to Zaza, Mejri, and McGee IMO for the vast majority of the time.

DGM · 01-26-2016, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turin

Agree, but I prefer that he forgo using Dirk and Powell at the 5 because of defensive liability. Stick to Zaza, Mejri, and McGee IMO for the vast majority of the time.

Powell is a 4. RC should play him there.

Melonhead · 01-26-2016, 11:20 PM

Have a feeling this will be a game where the mavs let this crappy team hang around all game. They'll find themselves late in the 4th having to gut out this win....

Just get the win.

turin · 01-26-2016, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGM

Powell is a 4. RC should play him there.

Absolutely. No question about it imo

Bryan_Wilson · 01-26-2016, 11:25 PM

The 2 times we have gone small this game so far have resulted in big runs for LA. First time was McGee/Parsons/Wes/Felton/Dwill. This time Salah/Parsons/Wes/JJ/Dwill.

Melonhead · 01-26-2016, 11:25 PM

My god matthews...get your shot together. Go shoot with dirk and parsons

turin · 01-26-2016, 11:29 PM

Love the intimidation factor of Sala in the paint.

Underdog · 01-26-2016, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGM

He sat him for Powell on Sunday. Powell stunk and McGee sat.

I'm not stressing over 1 game where Rick sits a 3/4th option for a 3/4th option...

Underdog · 01-26-2016, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melonhead

My god matthews...get your shot together. Go shoot with dirk and parsons

Yeah, looks like his shot may never recover from his injury, which is odd considering how well he still moves on defense... Just looks like he lost some of his lift for good.

DGM · 01-26-2016, 11:35 PM

RC puts Powell in at the 5.

Underdog · 01-26-2016, 11:43 PM

I seem to remember the Mavs being pretty good on defense earlier in the season... What happened to that over the past couple months?

Bryan_Wilson · 01-26-2016, 11:45 PM

Lakers have the worst fg% in the NBA... shooting 45% at the half. Part is cuz no Kobe... bigger part is our defense...again.

-Edit-

Also losing the boards battle and gave them 20 free throws to go with 45% from 3.... Good Lord.

TheSportyChannel · 01-26-2016, 11:45 PM

Lakers 58 Mavs 56 at the half. Pathetic performance by the team vs the worst team in the NBA. No defense at all. This team is a sure fire 1st round exit if they don't make some trades before the deadline. Oh yea Chandler Parsons again with the worst +/- on the team at the half at -9 for all you stat freaks. Does Parsons really help this team or is it just EMPTY STATS?

Dnowit41 · 01-26-2016, 11:50 PM

How the hell are we losing to the Lakers. Embarrassing.

Underdog · 01-26-2016, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSportyChannel

Oh yea Chandler Parsons again with the worst +/- on the team at the half at -9 for all you stat freaks.

Pretty sure most "stat freaks" understand that -9 in just 17 minutes means squat... The +/- stat only holds relevance over a large sample size, not to mention that it's 100% dependent on the other 4 players in a given lineup.