The Dallas Mavericks will try to end the first half of the regular season on a hot streak when they host the LA Lakers on Wednesday night.
Even while dealing with a raft of injuries to their back-court, Dallas has won 7 of their last 8 games, as Dirk Nowitzki has regained his All-Star form after struggling through the first two months of the NBA's lockout-compressed season.
LA, meanwhile, has struggled without Lamar Odom, as they have fallen from the ranks of Western Conference contenders this season, stumbling out to a 19-13 record, including a ghastly 5-11 road mark.
The Lakers still have two All-Stars in Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum, but the chemistry between the two shot-happy players has been mixed while they are getting almost nothing from spots 4-12 on their roster.
In the first meeting between the two teams this season, Derek Fisher hit a three-pointer as time expired to give LA a 73-70 victory.
The 8:30 PM game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
For more on the Mavericks, head over to Mavs Moneyball while Silver Screen & Roll has you covered for all things Lakers.