(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

So, we don’t want to oversell it, but the Mavericks have kinda turned things around recently!

Yep, they WERE in a massive slump, but they’re currently on a three-game WINNING streak!

But keep cool about it, though.

We don’t want to anger the basketball gods…

Anyhow, they’re back at the American Airlines Center TONIGHT to take on the Houston Rockets and again on Friday to play the Oklahoma City Thunder!

You can find those tickets at mavs.com.

And remember, the first game of the Stars‘ season is THIS Saturday, and you can go get your tickets for that at dallasstars.com.

Click the player below for an awesome hat trick:

Follow Jack on Facebook or Twitter @JACKFMDFW for JACKTIVITIES updates!

After a sleepy 12 minutes, the Lakers found themselves down 23-26 at the end of the first quarter…and it didn’t get any prettier.

The second quarter only saw more of the same…until some solid 3 point action from Barnes made it a tie game at 29-29 with 7.07 to go in the 2nd! Go Barnes Go! But just like the hunted being stalked by the hunter, Denver’s desire to win overpowered Bynum’s “game 5 is a cakewalk” boast…and Denver came back strong at the end of the second.

The result?

At halftime, the Lakers were down 47-43! …and Kobe Bryant (who had 18 pts, 1 reb, 3 ast at the half) was still trying to wake up Barnes (who had 8 pts) Bynum (who had 7 pts) Eubanks (who had 3 pts) Gasol (who had 3 pts) and Sessions (who had 2 pts)

Day-um.

The third quarter saw more of the same, closing out with the Lakers down 65-76. And, despite Denver pulling an MWP elbow foul on themselves?!? the Lakers were still down by 12 with 5 mins left to play in the 4th.

And all anybody was wondering was “Why did Bynum say what he said to rile up Denver and make them come out strong?”

“It’s a learning experience,” Bryant said in defense of the young center in his post-game interview. “I’ve been here before but the other players haven’t.”

Indeed. With the rest of the Lakeshow still sleepwalking, Kobe Bryant made THREE BACK TO BACK THREES for a 2 point game! With less than a minute to play in the 4th, #24 WAS ON FIRE!

He even got his own rebounds too…because nobody was there to get it.

But despite Kobe’s amazing run, none of the other members of the Lakeshow were able to utilize his assists to capitalize on his momentum, and the Lakers lost 102-99.

Bryant, however, did end up with an incredible 43 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl…and another record for playoff scoring! Bynum, after comitting himself to defense and defense alone ended up with a respectable 16 pts, but only 11 reb, 1 ast, and 1 blk! Gasol, with 9 pts, 10 reb, 1 ast, and 1 stl didn’t fill in the defensive gap either. Barnes (with 11 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl) and Sessions (with 9 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast) tried their best, but the Lakeshow’s weak defense wasn’t enough to withstand Denver’s 58 points in the paint and 19 fast break points.

If only Sessions had made that 3, Gasol his layup. If only Bynum had rebounded. If only….

We would be getting ready to face Oklahoma tonight.

But Bryant takes full responsibility for the loss, saying that if he had made his 4th 3 pointer in a row, there would have been no need for rebounding, defense, or more shooters to step up and get involved.

Or, added Bryant, “in the words of another coach I used to have, the basketball Gods frowned on us because the way we played, we didn’t deserve to win.”

Day-um.

Get ready for the Lakers to bring it when they head back to Denver Thursday. Get Your Game On!

Go Quakes.