The new-look Los Angeles Lakers lost their first game of the season 99-91 as the Dallas Mavericks showed up to play despite not having their two stars on the court.
There were six Mavericks who scored in double figures. Darren Collison led the team in scoring with 17 points and two assists.
Elton Brand, Brandan Wright and Eddy Curry combined for 29 points and provided depth down low grabbing 20 boards.
Jae Crowder, the rookie had eight points and Rodrigue Beaubois had 11 from the bench.
However, much props to the Mavericks for the win, but they will be overshadowed by the Lakers' struggles in the first game of the season.
They missed 19 of 31 free throws and went 3-13 from beyond the arc.
Dwight Howard, in his first game, as a Laker fouled out. He scored 19 points grabbing 10 rebounds.
Pau Gasol led the team in scoring with 23 going 8-19 from the floor and hit six of eight free throws. He was without a doubt the best Laker on the floor.
Kobe Bryant was on fire going 11-14 from the floor, but he had no free throw attempts, meaning he was not aggressive on the floor.
Steve Nash, who was also playing in his first game in a purple and gold uniform, only went 3-9 from the floor good for seven points and only had four assists.
The Lakers still look sluggish and are attempting to settle down and understand their offense.
The Mavericks will be in Utah tomorrow, Wednesday, while the Lakers will travel to Portland.
