SAN FRANCISCO --- After four previous futile attempts, the Los Angeles Lakers finally won a road game this season last Saturday night, and they did it in grand fashion by blowing away the Dallas Mavericks -- 115-89 -- at the American Airlines Center.
It seemed more like practice than a regular season game for the Lakers, who led by as many as 37 points and hit 8-of-10 threes in the first half to open up a 65-38 halftime lead. The Mavericks gamely fought back in the third quarter but the most that the hosts can do was slice a meager three points from the Lakers' huge cushion entering the final stanza.
Playing in fourth game in five nights, the Lakers showed no signs of fatigue and shot 40-of-82 from the field (48.8 percent) and 12-of-22 from 3-land (54.5 percent). They also crushed the Mavericks off the boards, 61-39.
While the Lakers were having the easiest time scoring, the Mavericks went the opposite way, hitting only 34-of-92 field goals (37 percent) and 10-of-28 threes (35.7 percent). Usually dependable from the stripe, the Mavericks also managed to miss nine of 20 free throws.
Kobe Bryant, Antawn Jamison and Metta World Peace tallied 19 each for the Lakers' balanced attack. Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol combined for 28 points and 16 rebounds while Jodie Meeks added 11 points.
Vince Carter paced Dallas with 16 points. O.J. Mayo, who had carried most of the Mavericks' offensive burden in the absence of Dirk Nowitzki, finished with just 13 points on 5-for15 shooting from the field.
The Lakers are the Mavs both log a 5-5 won-lost slate. (Joan Secuya-Medida)
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