Lakers at Mavericks
THE STORY: The two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers are in supreme trouble as the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals moves to Dallas for Game 3 on Friday. The Mavericks have a 2-0 series lead after winning both games in Los Angeles and can place the Lakers in a dire situation with a third straight triumph. The Mavericks thoroughly frustrated the Lakers during Wednesday’s 93-81 victory and Los Angeles appeared close to coming unhinged as things disintegrated and its home fans serenaded the club with boos. The atmosphere in Dallas will be at a fever pitch on Friday with the Mavericks in position to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Lakers, who will be shorthanded after the NBA on Thursday suspended forward Ron Artest for one game.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS: This is how good Dirk Nowitzki has been in the playoffs – that stellar 24-point performance in Game 2 represents his second-lowest scoring game of the postseason. Nowitzki is averaging 27 points and has scored 20 or more points in all eight of Dallas’ postseason games. The Mavericks received a solid boost from backup guard J.J. Barea, who had 12 points in 17 minutes for his first double-digit contest of the playoffs. Barea’s bench play was pivotal as Dallas survived poor shooting games from key reserves Jason Terry (3-for-12, nine points) and Peja Stojakovic (2-for-9, four points). Shawn Marion added 14 points and nine rebounds and guard DeShawn Stevenson contributed nine points on three 3-pointers.
ABOUT THE LAKERS: Los Angeles opened a series with back-to-back home losses for the first time since 1977 when it was swept by the Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas-led Portland Trail Blazers. The Lakers were out-of-sync offensively in the second half of Game 2 when they scored just 32 points. Pau Gasol has been badly outplayed by Nowitzki and has struggled throughout the playoffs. Gasol is averaging just 13.6 points in eight postseason games and hasn’t scored more than 17 points. He is averaging 14 points in the two games against Dallas. Kobe Bryant scored just 23 points in Game 2 after recording 36 in the opener. Bryant’s 3-point basket with 2:43 remaining was the Lakers’ first of the game. Los Angeles will be without Artest, who was suspended after drawing a ejection for belting Barea with a shot to the face in the final half-minute of Game 2.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Marion has scored in double figures in five consecutive games and is averaging 13.2 points during the stretch. Lakers guard Steve Blake missed all five shots in Game 2 for his third straight scoreless playoff outing.
KEY STATISTIC: Los Angeles is just 7-of-39 from 3-point range through the two games. The Lakers were 5-of-19 in the opener and a putrid 2-for-20 in Game 2.
LAST WORD: “We’re gonna need every gun blazing and throw the kitchen sink at these guys when they come into our place.” – Dallas coach Rick Carlisle on his team’s approach for Friday’s Game 3.