[客场挑战之美航中心止败求胜]湖人与小牛比赛前瞻 以下来自ESPN http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280318006
The Dallas Mavericks haven't stood out recently from a crowdedWestern Conference playoff field -- and with good reason: They haven'tbeaten another West contender since January.
小牛队近来一直在没有乱成一团的西部季后赛争夺中脱颖而出，原因很简单：他们从今年1月开始还没有击败过他们的任何竞争对手。
The Mavericks will look to end a six-game slide against teams in theWest playoff picture on Tuesday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers,who've lost two straight and will likely be without injured center PauGasol.
The Mavs have won five in a row to remain only 2 1/2 games behindthe conference-leading Houston Rockets, but all five games have comeagainst losing teams from the Eastern Conference. Dallas' 44-23 recordisn't even good enough for home-court advantage in the first round ofthe playoffs.
Since acquiring point guard Jason Kidd from New Jersey before theNBA'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 againstsuch teams, but will have two chances this week with home games againstthe Lakers (45-21) and San Antonio on Sunday.
In between, they host the NBA-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday.
在这两场比赛之间，他们还将与NBA战绩最好的凯尔特人在周四鏖战一场。
"We feel like, at home, we should be ready," Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki said.
“我们认为在主场我们应该能获得胜利。”诺维茨基表示。
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 fifthstraight win by at least 19 points.
"I wanted to get this team to a point where we can get somemomentum," Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. "... Things could changequite a bit in the Western Conference over the next week or 10 days."
Some of that change could depend on Gasol, who was healthy andscored 17 points when the Mavericks visited Los Angeles on March 2.Still, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant had 52 points in the Lakers' 108-104overtime win.
Now that Gasol is out with a sprained ankle and not expected toplay Tuesday, Bryant said he'll have to carry even more of the offense.
现在加索尔右脚踝扭伤，有可能无法在周二的比赛中出场，科比说他将会在进攻端承担更大的责任。
Gasol only played 2 1/2 minutes before he suffered the injuryFriday in a 108-98 loss at New Orleans, as Bryant had 36 points. Bryantthen attempted 33 shots -- a season high in a non-overtime game -- butmade 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 typeof defense against us that we've seen in the past," Bryant said. "Whatwe have to do is focus on the defensive end a lot more. And I'llobviously have to shoulder more of the load."
The Lakers, in the midst of a four-game road trip against Westcontenders, were knocked out of first place in the conference Sunday asthe Rockets extended their winning streak to 22 games. Los Angeles lastlost three straight games in late January, with center Andrew Bynuminjured and Gasol still on the Memphis Grizzlies.
Los Angeles has lost four straight games at Dallas and five of seven to the Mavs overall.
湖人队在达拉斯已经4连败，他们在过去7次挑战小牛的比赛中5次败北。
以下来自湖人官网GAMENOTE
The Lakers are currently tied with Dallas 1-1 on the season with twogames remaining after losing last season’s series with the Mavericks1-3 for the first time since the 1986- 87 season and only the secondtime ever (1983-84). This will be the 117th overall meeting between thetwo franchises with the Lakers holding an 88-28 series advantage. Intheir last meeting, at STAPLES Center March 2, the Lakers defeated theMavericks 108-104 in overtime behind Kobe Bryant’s NBA season-high 52points. The Lakers are 4-6 against the Mavericks in their last 10overall games. At Staples Center, the Lakers are 13-3 all-time againstthe Mavericks, but in their last 10 games in Dallas, the Lakers are 4-6and have lost their last 4 in a row at American Airlines Center. Underhead coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 19-10 against the Mavericks. InDecember of 2005, Kobe Bryant established a new series record with 62points against the Mavericks in a 112-90 victory at STAPLES Center. Inthat contest, Bryant single-handedly outscored the Mavericks 62-61through three quarters. In 38 games (32 starts), Bryant is averaging25.1 points for his career against Dallas. Mavericks guard/forwardDevean George played his first seven seasons with the Lakers, winningthree championships. In 429 games, George averaged 6.0 points and 3.3rebounds in 18.9 minutes and ranks among the franchise leaders in3-point FG% (10th/.340) and 3- point FG made (9th/282). Mavericks guardEddie Jones (1994-99) played his first five seasons with the Lakers,averaged 15.2 points and still ranks among franchise leaders in 3-pointFG% (4th/.378), 3-point FG made (tied 4th/ 489) and steals (10th/644).
Kobe Bryant scored 30 of his NBA season-high 52 points in the fourthquarter and overtime while Pau Gasol added 17 points and team-highs inrebounds (14), assists (5), steals (3) and blocks (2) as the Lakersovercame a Dirk Nowitzki three-pointer at the end of regulation toforce overtime and defeated the Dallas Mavericks 108-104 at STAPLESCenter. Bryant’s 52-point game was the 22nd 50-plus point game of hiscareer (3rd all-time) and moved him past Walt Bellamy for 25th on theNBA’s all-time scoring list while his 27 free throw attempts tied acareer-high. Derek Fisher and Luke Walton scored 11 points apiece toround out the Lakers in double figures while Bryant (11) and Odom (10)each posted double-digits in rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki led all fiveMavericks starters in double-figures with 30 points and 13 rebounds.Erick Dampier added 16 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, Jason Terryscored 18 points, Josh Howard posted 11 points and Jason Kidd totaled15 points and game-highs in assists (11) and steals (4) in the loss.With the victory, the Lakers evened the season series at one gameapiece with two remaining.
