BRYANT, LAKERS CURSED MAVS SLOW KOBE DOWN, BEAT L.A. DALLAS 102, LAKERS 87.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

DALLAS - After everything Kobe Bryant did to the Dallas Mavericks the two times he saw them back in December, maybe the Mavericks felt they had to beat the Lakers twice Tuesday night to exorcise some demons.

The Mavericks pummeled the Lakers in the first quarter, let them back in a game they trailed by 20, then closed out the third quarter on a 12-2 run just when it looked like the Lakers were going to make things interesting.

There was no Bryant miracle 3-pointer at the end and no 62-point night through three quarters from the superstar guard. The Lakers instead dropped to 1-5 on this road trip with a 102-87 loss, prompting an admission from coach Phil Jackson afterward.

Jackson said he would consider removing forward Kwame Brown from the starting lineup after Brown followed a 12-point game at American Airlines Center on Dec. 12 by finishing scoreless in 14 minutes with four fouls Tuesday.

``That's awful,'' Jackson said. ``He gave us a terrible game tonight. I had a short meeting with him the other day and told him I really valued the opportunity he was getting and he just didn't give us any productive minutes at all.''

Brown's game was all the more magnified by forward Brian Cook's career-high 28-point night. Brown was removed for rookie Andrew Bynum in the first quarter and sat the entire second and third quarters while Cook went on to knock down 12 of 16 shots.

``I think we have the talent to have someone step up every night,'' Cook said, ``but it has to be someone.''

The Lakers (24-24) will need Brown in the starting lineup tonight in Houston against 7-foot-5 center Yao Ming. Once center Chris Mihm returns from a shoulder injury, however, Jackson could consider changes.

``Should be interesting,'' Jackson said.

It was the Lakers' fourth consecutive double-digit loss on this trip, with Jackson facing only the third five-game losing streak of his coaching career if the Lakers can't beat the Rockets tonight.

The Mavericks (38-10) won their 12th straight game, the longest winning streak in the NBA this season, and exacted some revenge. Bryant had 24 points but endured his worst shooting night of the season, going 5 of 22 overall and 3 of 11 from 3-point range.

Jackson also conceded that he made the wrong move late in the third quarter, bringing Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic off the bench for Smush Parker and Devean George just when the Lakers had the Mavericks on their heels.

They took their only lead of the night - and first lead in three games and more than 160 minutes - as Lamar Odom drained two free throws with 2:56 left in the third to put the Lakers in front 66-64.

But the Lakers gave up a 12-2 run to close the quarter, with Bryant getting stripped by Josh Howard, Vujacic missing a 3-pointer and fouling Devin Harris at the other end, and Bryant getting blocked by Erick Dampier trying to drive for a layup.

``Strategically, it was a bad move on my part,'' Jackson said. ``Guys who went in the ballgame didn't give us any help. We made four mistakes in a row and got a couple of fouls and suddenly set ourselves up for a bad finish in that quarter.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Lakers' Lamar Odom, left, has his shot blocked by Dallas' DeSegana Diop.

(2) Kobe Bryant loses control of the ball as he drives to the basket on Tuesday.

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press