Preview: Lakers (19-13) at Mavericks (21-12)

Earl K. Sneed previews the Dallas Mavericks' matchup against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night as the defending champions try to extend a four-game home winning streak in the final showdown before the All-Star break.

DALLAS — Revenge.

Sometimes revenge can be a driving force for a team as it seeks retribution following a tough loss. That figures to be the case for both teams when the Mavericks welcome in the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night in Dallas' final game before the All-Star break.

While the Lakers (19-13) will again try to avenge a second-round playoff series sweep at the hands of the Mavericks last season, the Dallas team will step on its home hardwood looking to get even after Derek Fisher’s game-winning 3-pointer downed the defending champions to a 73-70 loss in L.A. on Jan. 16. It's the only time the Mavs have fallen in the 14 games they've held an opponent to 90 points or fewer.

Meanwhile, Mavs forward Lamar Odom will have his own score to settle after being traded to Dallas for just a trade exception during training camp, winning back-to-back titles and competing in three straight NBA Finals during his seven seasons with the Lakers. Odom finished with 10 points and four rebounds off the bench against his former team the first go-round.

“In this league, you can’t worry about who you’re playing and who they’ve got on the court,” Odom said before facing his former team.

He added: “No prisoners. You look to win no matter who you’re playing against.”

And after playing alongside him for seven seasons, Odom says the key to stopping the Lakers lies in stopping the league’s leading scorer, Kobe Bryant.

Stringing together four straight 40-point games before meeting the Mavericks (21-12) back in January, Bryant was held to just 14 points — well below his 29-point season average — on 7-of-22 shooting by the Dallas defense to go along with seven assists. Leading the league in opponent field goal percentage after allowing opposing teams to shoot just 41.5 percent from the field all season, the Mavs will again look to hound Bryant on the defensive end. The team will also try to limit the Lakers’ supporting cast and not allow role players like Fisher to beat them in a close game.

“Contain Kobe,” Odom simply said when focusing on the defensive strategy. “Defensive rebound, get those guys off the block and off their spots and trap Kobe as much as possible.”

“Our identity this year is that we’re a defensive team,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle added. “You look at our stats and you look at our record, you look at when we’ve struggled and when we play well. Our defense and rebounding is defining who we are.”

Meanwhile, the Mavericks will try to conclude play on a high note as they seek an eighth win in their final nine games before heading into the midseason break. And with only the Lakers standing in their way, the Mavs will try to treat their fans to a show before the layoff in between games.

With the Lakers just 5-11 on the road this season, the Mavericks will try to improve upon a 13-5 mark at home. The reigning titleholders will seek to continue a trend of gritty defensive play at home as well, holding opponents to just 85.8 points per game and 38.9 percent shooting during a four-game home winning streak.

“We’ve got one more game against the Lakers, who are playing well. So, we’ve got to end the first half on the right note by getting the win,” point guard Jason Kidd concluded.

Note: The Mavs return to action at the American Airlines Center Wednesday night when they host the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers lead the season series 1-0 after a 73-70 win over the Mavs on Jan. 16 in L.A. The game will air nationally on ESPN and locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 8:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.