Shawn Marion out vs. Lakers

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DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks small forward Shawn Marion missed his third consecutive game because of a sore left knee, despite lobbying to play in Wednesday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers defeated the Mavericks, 109-93.

The Lakers won both previous meetings this season against the defending NBA champions, but Marion did a phenomenal job defending Kobe Bryant.

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The NBA's scoring leader averaged only 14.5 points -- his lowest against any team this season-- on 29.7 percent shooting in the two previous wins over the Mavs. Marion was on the floor for all but six of Bryant's 76 minutes in those games.

"They're making me sit out," Marion said, referring to coach Rick Carlisle and head athletic trainer Casey Smith. "It's not so much about playing Kobe, it's about wanting to go out there and fight with my team."

Marion had been the only Maverick to play in every game this season before it was determined that his knee, which had been bothering him for weeks, was a significant enough concern to keep him from playing. He did on-court work, such as running and shooting, Wednesday for the first time since playing in Thursday's win over the Charlotte Bobcats.

"Hopefully (I'll) be ready for Friday," Marion said.

The Mavericks were also without center Brendan Haywood (sprained right knee) and guard Delonte West (fractured right ring finger). West, who got the pins removed from his surgically-repaired finger Friday, could return next week. Haywood will miss at least two more games.

"I'm not counting games," said Haywood, who will sit out his third consecutive game. "I'm counting how I feel."

Haywood said he's feeling better and has been running sprints, doing court work and working on the elliptical machine and underwater treadmill.

The Mavericks have back-to-back road games against the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets on Friday and Saturday.

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Tim MacMahon

ESPNDallas.com

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• Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009
• Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks
• Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM