Looks like Kobe Bryant won't play vs. Mavs
ESPN Los Angeles' Andrew Kamenetzky reported Saturday that Bryant did not participate in the team's practice and according to head coach Mike Brown is "most likely to be out" of the lineup against Dallas as he continues recovering from tenosynovitis, or inflammation in his left shin.
It would be the fifth consecutive game Bryant has missed as the Lakers try to hold off the Clippers for the No. 3 seed in the West. The Lakers, swept out of the second round of the playoffs a year ago by the Mavs, are 3-0 against Dallas this season. Bryant averaged just 14.5 points a game on less than 28 percent shooting in the first two meetings, but scored 30 in last month's game at Dallas with Mavs defensive player of the year candidate Shawn Marion out with a knee injury.
The Lakers are 3-1 without Bryant during this stretch.
The Mavs have won three in a row and will try to match their longest winning streak since the All-Star break.
If the current standings hold in the final six games of the regular season, the Mavs will open the playoffs in L.A. against the Lakers.
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Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
Marc Stein
Marc Stein began writing for ESPN.com in 2000 and signed on full-time in 2002 as Senior NBA Writer. He also makes regular appearances on "SportsCenter," "NBA Shootaround," "NBA Fastbreak," "NBA Coast To Coast," ESPNEWS, ESPN "First Take" and ESPN Radio.
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TEAM LEADERS
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Dirk Nowitzki
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | S. Marion | 7.8 | ||||||||||
| Assists | D. Collison | 5.1 | ||||||||||
| Steals | D. Collison | 1.2 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | E. Brand | 1.3 | ||||||||||
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