The Los Angeles Lakers have lost their hold on the eighth seed of the Western Conference playoff race, and with just a few games left in the season they'll need a victory over the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night at 10:30 p.m. ET in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.

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Via ESPN:

The Mavericks (36-37) appear to be peaking at the right time, winning 10 of 14 to get back into the playoff picture. Now they have a chance to get their record to .500 and pull closer to both Utah and the Lakers (38-36) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Dallas beat the Lakers 99-91 at the Staples Center in the season opener, but the only time in franchise history it recorded two wins in Los Angeles came in the 1983-84 season.

But the Mavericks, who have lost 55 of 67 all-time regular-season meetings in Los Angeles, could be catching the Lakers at the right time.

Los Angeles has dropped four of six and can't afford to fall very far behind the Jazz with just eight games remaining. The Lakers, however, play six of their final eight at the Staples Center -- where they've won 11 of 13.

Kobe Bryant continues to be bothered by a nagging left foot injury, but still finished with 19 points, tied a season high with 14 assists and added nine rebounds in a 103-98 win at Sacramento on Saturday.