PREVIEW
LAKERS AT MAVERICKS
Time: 8:30 p.m. CT
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: ESPN
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: Behind a franchise record-tying nine players scoring 10 or more points, the Mavs shocked the Nuggets in Denver on Tuesday, 109-106. It was just the second time in team history that the Mavs had as many as nine players score 10 or more points in a game. And the Mavs won despite their two best players – Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis – combining for only 22 points on 7-of-26 shooting . . . Center Dwight Powell started and played his first game of the season against Denver. Powell, who is still on a minutes restrictions following a strained left hamstring, finished with four points and four rebounds and played all 14 of his minutes in the first half . . . The Mavs showed why they have one of the best benches in the entire NBA. Against the powerful Nuggets, who had the league’s best home record last season with 34 victories, the Mavs’ bench scored 61 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and handed out 18 assists . . . Doncic averages 25 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 6.8 apg and 2.2 spg, and Porzingis averages 22.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 2.5 bpg . . . The Mavs are 47-110 all-time against the Lakers, including a 28-50 record in games played in Dallas . . . After this game, the Mavs face the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Sunday.
About the Lakers: Anthony Davis sure knows how to make an entrance. It was 50-50 on whether the 6-10 forward would play in Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. But not only did Davis play, he scored 40 points – while making only seven field goals – and grabbed 20 rebounds to lead the Lakers to a 120-91 victory. Davis was 26-of-27 from the free throw line against the Grizzlies, including an astonishing 18-of-18 in the third quarter. The 26 made free throws is a Lakers franchise record for a game. Also, it was just the second time in Laker history that a player collected at least 20 rebounds and made at least 25 free throws in a game. The other player to do it was Wilt Chamberlain during his iconic 100-pont game on Mar. 2, 1962. Davis only played 31 minutes in the game against the Grizzlies, thus becoming the player with a 40-20 game in the fewest minutes . . . The Lakers closed the third quarter against Memphis on a brisk 22-0 run . . . LeBron James scored 23 points and handed out eight assists against Memphis . . . Davis averages 28.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg and three blocks per game, and James is averaging 23.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 9.5 apg . . . This is the opener of a three-game road trip for the Lakers, who also play in San Antonio on Sunday and in Chicago on Tuesday.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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