Mavs 101, Lakers 96

DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points and Jason Terry added 30 as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Lakers tonight. The Lakers did not have the same bounce in their step they showed while defeating the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. "(Fatigue) is always a factor, but it's never an excuse," Pau Gasol said. "That's just the way it is, that's the way the NBA schedule is; you've got back-to-back (games), you've got to travel, and you play through it. We have enough of a veteran team here that we can play through it and fatigue is never an excuse or a big factor." Lamar Odom had a team-leading 21 points and Kobe Bryant added 20, one night after returning to the Lakers' lineup after sitting out five games because of a strained tendon in his left ankle. Bryant missed what would have been the tying 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining in the game.