PREVIEW

MAVS (12-6) AT LAKERS (17-2)

Time: 3 p.m. CT

Place: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles

TV: FSSW

Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)

About the Mavs: It’s an early start out West, but the Mavs are out for revenge after the NBA admitted the officiating crew made a huge mistake that cost the Mavs the game when they played the Lakers in Dallas on Nov. 1. Lakers guard Danny Green made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime, and the Lakers went on to win, 119-110. On the very next day in its Last Two Minute Report, the NBA admitted that Laker center Dwight Howard should have been whistled for holding Seth Curry prior to Green’s 3-pointer. Thus, if the correct call would have been made during the game, the Mavs would have had a three point lead and the ball with 3.5 seconds left in regulation. . .Luka Doncic had 31 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists in that earlier game against the Lakers. . .This is the second game of a three-game road trip for the Mavs. Dallas opened this trip by winning in Phoenix on Friday, 120-113. Doncic contributed a career-high tying 42 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists in that contest, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 26 points, and Kristaps Porzingis added 13 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. . .The Mavs are 1,584-1,584 all-time in the regular season in franchise history. They also are 6-2 on the road this season. . .The Mavs have won six of their last seven games. . .Doncic is third in the NBA in scoring (30.8 ppg), second in assists (9.6 apg) and 15th in rebounds (9.9 rpg). . .Porzingis averages 17.3 ppg and 9.4 rpg and is tied for fourth in the league in blocks with 2.18 bpg. . .In his last five games – all starts — Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 20.2 ppg and is 33-of-55 from the field (60 percent) and 20-of-33 from 3-point range (60.6 percent). . .The Mavs are 47-111 overall against the Lakers, including a 19-50 record during games played in Los Angeles.

About the Lakers: Don’t look now, but the best team in Los Angeles and in the NBA are the Lakers, who have the league’s best record at 17-2. The Lakers’ only losses were on opening day to the LA Clippers (112-102) and on Nov. 10 at home against Toronto (113-104). . .The Lakers’ 17-2 record ties for their best 19-game start ever. . .The Lakers have won their last 10 games. The last time the Lakers won 10 straight games was in December of 2009. That’s also the same season the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers won the franchise’s last NBA title. . .The Lakers were 14-1 in the month of November. That’s the most games they’ve won in one month since they also won 14 games in March of 2000. The Lakers won the NBA title that season behind Shaquille O’Neal and Bryant. . .Anthony Davis had 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Lakers to a 125-103 win over the Washington Wizards this past Friday. LeBron James contributed 23 points and 11 assists in that game. The Wizards opened the game by racing to a 15-4 lead. But at one point the Lakers established runs of 17-0 and 18-0 and wound up routing the Wizards. . .Davis leads the Lakers with 26.1 ppg and 9.2 rpg, and also tops the NBA in blocks (2.83 bpg). . .James averages 25.7 ppg and 7.1 rpg and leads the NBA in assists with 11 apg. . .Kyle Kuzma is averaging 11.7 ppg in only 22.6 mpg. . .Danny Green averages 8.6 ppg and is shooting 41.1 percent from behind the 3-point arc. . .James collected 39 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists when the Lakers played the Mavs in Dallas on Nov. 1. . .The Lakers are 9-1 at home and have the second-best plus/minus ratio in the NBA at +9.3. The Lakers are averaging 112.8 ppg and are allowing 103.5 ppg. . .The Lakers are one of the teams many are picking to win this season’s NBA championship.

Twitter:@DwainPrice

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