The Los Angeles Lakers look for their eighth straight win tonight, facing the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center in a nationally televised game on TNT. Tonight's game will go a long way in determining the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, with the Lakers currently holding a one-game lead in the loss column. The Lakers, who have already clinched the Pacific Division, hold the tiebreaker over Dallas by virtue of being a division winner.
| Western Conference Playoff Seeding | |||
| Team | Record | GB | Gms Left |
| San Antonio | 53-12 | --- | 17 |
| Dallas | 47-18 | 6 | 17 |
| Lakers | 46-20 | 7½ | 16 |
| Oklahoma City | 41-23 | 11½ | 18 |
If somehow Dallas passes San Antonio for the Southwest Division crown, the next tiebreaker between the Mavericks and Lakers would be head-to-head record. That makes tonight's game important, as the two teams have split two games so far this season. The Lakers are 17-4 all-time against Dallas at Staples Center.
Kobe Bryant on Sunday became the all-time Lakers leader in games played, with 1,094 games, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Lakers are 15-1 since the All-Star break, and are just the fifth team since 1951 to start 15-1 or better after the All-Star break. The Mavericks are playing on the second night of back-to-back nights, as they beat the Clippers on Wednesday night.
For more news and information on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.