The Dallas Mavericks might not beat the Los Angeles Lakers often, but they know how to kick them when they're down.

Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki, left, of Germany, celebrates a basket with teammate Michael Finley (4) during the first half of their 106-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Dallas, Thursday, Jan 22, 2004. [AP]

Antawn Jamison scored 26 points in 27 minutes, leading an 18-2 tiebreaking spurt in the third quarter that sent the Mavericks past the injury-depleted Lakers 106-87 Thursday night, keeping alive streaks for both teams.

Dallas won its sixth straight, stretching its best run of the season. The Mavs also came close to matching the 26-point blowout victory they enjoyed early last season when the Lakers were without Shaquille O'Neal.

They are now, too, and they're also missing Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone. As a result, they've dropped three straight and four of five games. They've also lost nine straight on the road, their longest skid since dropping 10 in a row in 1963-64.

Los Angeles put up a bit of a fight, erasing a 13-point halftime deficit in the first four minutes of the third quarter when Slava Medvedenko hit a jumper that tied it at 65.

Then Jamison took over, hitting a layup and two free throws for some breathing room. After Devean George scored for the Lakers, Jamison answered with another layup. A wide-open 3-pointer by Antoine Walker followed, then a jumper from Michael Finley prompted a timeout by the Lakers.

Finley came back with a 3-pointer, then Walker made a nifty bank shot between three defenders, although he failed to turn it into a three-point play. Jamison capped the run with another layup.

The Lakers finished the quarter with just four points in the last 8:01.

George led Los Angeles with a season-high 24 points. Medvedenko and Kareem Rush each scored 18.

Finley led Dallas with 31 points. Walker had 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Dirk Nowitzki had 16 points and nine rebounds. Jamison, who tied his season high in points, also had nine rebounds.

Los Angeles improved a little in the fourth to keep from topping last season's 98-72 rout. In that game, the Lakers scored the second-fewest points and had the worst shooting percentage in franchise history.

Even with the disclaimer of three future Hall of Famers out of the lineup, and rookie Luke Walton making his first career start, this was still fun for Dallas and its fans. As Mavs coach Don Nelson said before the game, "By name alone, they're dangerous."

After all, this win improved the Mavericks to just 21-82 in the all-time series, a winning percentage of .204. And, combined with a win in December, it gave them consecutive victories over the Lakers for the first time in more than 13 years.

It also is the first time since that same season, 1990-91, that Dallas hasn't lost the season series to Los Angeles; it finished tied 2-2.

In those two Lakers wins, the Mavericks never held the lead. The first was in the season opener in Los Angeles and the second came Dec. 4 in Dallas. The Lakers haven't won on the road since.

Notes:@ Malone will be with the Lakers in Utah on Saturday night, marking his first trip back, but he won't play. ... Dallas plays at Chicago on Friday, then the Sacramento Kings (news) visit on Sunday. ... Mavs rookie Marquis Daniels (flu) won't make the trip to Chicago on Friday. ... Walton became the second rookie to make his first start in as many nights. Brian Cook did it Wednesday night against Memphis. Before them, the last Lakers rookie to start was Mark Madsen in April 2001.

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