Mavs-Lakers preview: Luka-LeBron always a treat

What is happening to the Los Angeles Lakers has happened to every franchise in the NBA. It’s just a lot more newsworthy when it happens to them.

The Lakers, proud owners of 17 championships, have missed the playoffs in eight of the last 10 seasons and are on track to do so again this year. They have three sure-fire hall of famers and a losing record as they celebrate Christmas Sunday at American Airlines Center.

This isn’t the first time this has happened to the Lakers. In 2003-04, they brought in 40-year-old Karl Malone, 38-year-old Horace Grant and 35-year-old Gary Payton in hopes of putting together a championship run before they retired with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal as the headliners.

They lost the NBA finals to Detroit.

These Lakers won’t make it that far, at least not the way things look now. They are saddled with injuries, most notably Anthony Davis, who is out with a right foot injury. Russell Westbrook and LeBron James seem to be perpetually day-to-day with foot and ankle problems, respectively.

But these still are the Lakers. They still bring out a horde of fans to their road games and there will be a lot of gold and purple jerseys in the crowd at AAC on the day that Dirk Nowitzki’s statue is unveiled outside the building.

And in many ways, it’s hard to figure out how the Lakers have not had more success. Before his injury, Davis was playing at an MVP level at better than 27 points and 12 rebounds per game. But he and James both have missed substantial time to injury.

Westbrook has been more durable and has flourished as the team’s sixth man. But his 27.1 percent three-point shooting contributes to the Lakers’ NBA-worst perimeter scoring. They are the only team in the league making fewer than 10 three-pointers per game (9.9).

James remains capable of trotting out a triple-double in any game, but the Lakers are woefully thin and they are in the bottom third of the league in points allowed. Even so, whenever LeBron steps on the court, and especially when it’s against Luka, it’s a happening.

Here’s what other stocking-stuffers to look for in Sunday’s visit from the Lakers:

• This is the first of four meetings this season between the teams. Last season, the Mavericks went 2-1 against the Lakers but were 2-0 when Luka Dončić played. In one of those wins, he had a 34-point, 12-rebound, 12-assist triple-double.
• The Lakers’ visit means another appearance at AAC by Patrick Beverley, the longtime antagonist who loves to try to get under Luka’s skin defensively. Both players actually have a healthy respect for each other, but expect a lot of jawing between the two.
• The Mavericks remain shy on big men with Maxi Kleber out after hamstring surgery. Dorian Finney-Smith is fighting an adductor strain. Dwight Powell has been on the mend from a thigh issue. Also fighting injury: Josh Green with an elbow sprain.
• This is the start of a five-game trip for the Lakers that will stretch through the new year and conclude with visits to four of the five Southeast Division members (Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte).
• The Mavericks are coming off a four-game road trip and have three games at home before hitting the road again on New Year’s Eve. Jalen Brunson makes his return to AAC on Tuesday with the New York Knicks.
• The doors at AAC will open early at 10 a.m. if fans want to watch the Dirk Nowitzki statue unveiling from indoors rather than braving the elements.

• LOS ANGELES LAKERS (13-19) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (17-16)
• When: 1:30 p.m., Sunday.
• Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas.
• TV: Channel 8.
• Radio: 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).
• Twitter: @ESefko