Lakers vs. Mavericks

                                                                                         

Los Angeles -6 1/2 vs. Dallas

The Lakers and Mavericks have taken turns being high profile teams in the Western Conference in recent years, but neither has seemingly been good at the same time. This trend seems to be continuing as Los Angeles takes its undefeated record into Dallas to take on a struggling Mavericks team.

The Lakers (5-0) dispatched the previously undefeated, now swooning Houston Rockets Sunday night at the Staples Center, where Los Angeles is now 3-0. The Lakers weathered an early storm which saw the Rockets shoot out to a double digit lead to crush Houston 111-82. As usual Kobe Bryant lead all scorers with 23 points, followed closely behind by Pau Gasol with his 20 points and 15 rebounds.

With the win, Los Angeles Lakers ran its record to 5-0 for the first time since 2003-2004 and a win over Dallas Tuesday will put the team at 6-0 for the first time since 2001-2002. In that season the Lakers claimed their second of three straight championships. At 2-0 on the road, it will get a little tougher for the Lakers as after their meeting with the Mavericks, they will move on to New Orleans and come home to face Detroit.

Dallas (2-4) comes home after a tough road trip which saw the team go 1-2. The positive emotion of a victory against the rival Spurs in the first game of the trip was quickly erased with two straight losses to Denver and most recently Sunday to the lowly and previously unbeaten Los Angeles Clippers 103-92. The game saw the Mavericks fall far behind and rally from an 11-point deficit to tie the score with a little over eight minutes remaining, but that is where it all fell apart and lead to another disappointing Dallas loss.

Dallas is 0-2 at home and was 1-3 against Los Angeles a year ago. The Dallas Mavericks only victory came on the road in the first game of the series, they then dropped the next three, including both at home.

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