Lakers at Mavericks
THE STORY: Win or start the offseason a month earlier than expected. That’s the task facing the two-time defending Los Angeles Lakers when they visit the torrid Dallas Mavericks in Sunday’s Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. The Mavericks have a 3-0 lead in the series to place the Lakers in the most dire of playoff situations. Not a single team in NBA history has rallied to win a playoff series under those circumstances and the Lakers have looked more like a tired team against Dallas than one in the midst of another NBA title push. Dirk Nowitzki has dominated the series and hit the go-ahead shot in Dallas’ 98-92 victory in Game 3 on Friday.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS: Although Nowitzki received ample support from reserves Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic in Friday’s victory, the German proved that he was an unstoppable force in another Dallas triumph. Nowitzki scored 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting and made 4-of-5 3-point attempts. His basket with 1:23 to play put the Mavericks ahead to stay. Terry scored 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting in his best performance of the series and Stojakovic had 11 of his 15 points in the final quarter. The Mavericks outscored the Lakers 17-5 over the final four minutes. Point guard Jason Kidd has struggled with his shooting – he is just 8-of-26 from the field – but is averaging 8.7 assists in the three Dallas victories. Shawn Marion (1-of-7, two points) and J.J. Barea (1-of-5, four points) were not factors after playing pivotal roles in Dallas’ Game 2 victory.
ABOUT THE LAKERS: Los Angeles certainly wasn’t expecting to be in a position where its season might end on May 8. Now, the Lakers will attempt to avoid being the fifth reigning NBA champion to have been swept in a playoff series. Andrew Bynum was the Lakers’ best player in Game 3 with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Kobe Bryant (17 points) and Pau Gasol (12 points) had average games. Lamar Odom moved into the starting lineup due to the one-game suspension to Ron Artest and scored 18 points. Artest will be back for Sunday’s contest. Los Angeles was 3-for-13 from 3-point range in Game 3 and is shooting a porous 19.2 percent from behind the arc in the series.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Nowitzki is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds and shooting 70 percent from 3-point range in the series. Gasol is averaging just 13.3 points and shooting 42.9 percent from the field in the three games.
KEY STATISTIC: Dallas made 12 3-point baskets in Game 3. The Lakers have made 10 the entire series.
LAST WORD: “I might be sick in the head or crazy because I think we’re still going to win the series. I might be nuts. But win on Sunday, go back home and see if they can win in L.A.” – Bryant on the predicament facing the Lakers.