Preview: Lakers at Dallas Mavericks - Los Angeles Times
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Preview: Lakers at Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki is shooting 48.9% from the field and 41% from three-point range this season.
(Tannen Maury / EPA)
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The Lakers (14-20) take to the road on Tuesday night, visiting the Mavericks (19-15) in Dallas.

Dallas has lost two consecutive games and five of their last 10, but the Lakers are in a true slump, dropping seven of their last eight despite playing five at home.

Can the injured Lakers climb out of their rut on the road against a quality team?

Regardless, they’ll need to try without Kobe Bryant (knee), Steve Nash (back), Steve Blake (elbow), Jordan Farmar (hamstring) and Xavier Henry (knee).

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Key matchup

After sitting out with bronchitis and a sinus infection, Pau Gasol has looked a lot healthier the last few games.

Over his last three, he’s averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.3 blocked shots and 4.7 assists a game.

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With so many injuries, the Lakers haven’t been able to support Gasol’s production, certainly not defensively.

Gasol and the Lakers will have to find a way to deal with Dirk Nowitzki, who is averaging 20.9 points a game while shooting 48.9% from the field, 41% from behind the arc and 89.8% from the line.

Nowitzki, with his jump shot, is very difficult to handle. The Lakers might use Gasol but others might get a chance on the Dallas star, including Shawne Williams, Wesley Johnson, Ryan Kelly, Robert Sacre and even the rarely used Chris Kaman.

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X-factor

The Lakers have turned to second-year guard Kendall Marshall to orchestrate the team’s offense.

Marshall, despite playing in the NBA Development League until a couple of weeks ago, is averaging 14.5 points, 16 assists and six rebounds through two starts for the Lakers.

In six appearances, Marshall is shooting 52.8% from the field, 47.1% from behind the arc and 100% from the line. The sample size is tiny, but he’s been a bright spot over the last couple of games for the Lakers.

The Mavericks rely on a very different guard, the high-scoring Monta Ellis.

Ellis, in his first year with the Mavericks, is averaging 20 points and 5.8 assists per game.

Defensively the Lakers have been a mess in recent games. Ellis could (and should) be a big problem for the Lakers.

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Outlook

The Lakers did beat the Utah Jazz (11-25) recently but have otherwise looked overmatched on most nights.

Injuries have been too much to overcome and the Mavericks aren’t likely to show clemency for the Lakers’ woes.

ALSO:

Lakers might have a gem with Kendall Marshall on a two-year contract

Conflicting ‘reports’ on status of Pau Gasol trade to Cavaliers

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Pau Gasol is still a Laker as of morning shoot-around

Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

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