Remember that the Lakers also lost Game 1 at home last round to the New Orleans Hornets, but the Mavericks are vastly better team than New Orleans. A lot of things did point to a Laker win in Game 1. They had a 16-point second-half lead at one point. And while Dallas shot better (49.4%) from the field than the Lakers (42.9%), the Lakers had more points in the paint (46 to 36), more second-chance points (12-5), more rebounds (44-40) and were tied in fast-break points (15). However, the Laker bench was outscored by the Mavericks bench 40-25 as Dallas coach Rick Carlisle went 10 deep.

Dallas has now won back-to-back road playoff games after losing 18 of their previous 20 away from American Airlines Center. But Game 2 has not been kind to the Mavs on the road in recent playoff series. They are 0-3 since 2008 in Game 2 situations on the road and 1-4 overall. The Lakers, meanwhile, better win tonight. They are 2-16 all time in series when they have started in an 0-2 hole. Bryant’s 36 points Monday marked his 81st playoff game with 30 points or more. He trails only Michael Jordan (109) on that list. However, the Lakers went to Bryant five times in the final three minutes and got two points and two turnovers out of those possessions. The Lakers plan to give different defensive looks on Dirk Nowitzki in Game 2 after he had 28 points and 14 rebounds in the opener. Nowitzki scored 11 points in the fourth quarter Monday night during the Mavericks' first-ever playoff win in Los Angeles, including four in the final 40 seconds.

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