DALLAS – Shawn Marion is usually the player the Dallas Mavericks lean on to guard Kobe Bryant.
But Marion has missed the past two games with a sore left knee. And his status for tonight’s 8:30 game against Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers is still up in the air.
“He’s doing better, so we’re listing him as a game-time decision,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said.
Asked about especially needing Marion’s defense against Bryant, Carlisle said: “We’re listing him as a game-time decision, so that’s what we’re going to do.’’
If Marion can’t play, Jason Kidd and others will take turns trying to give Bryant a different look defensively. But Kidd, who turns 39 on Friday, would rather spend his time guarding somebody else besides Bryant.
“I think Shawn loves that challenge, no matter who it is. We tend to put him on the best player on the other side.
“If he can go tonight, it definitely helps us.’’
And if Marion can’t play tonight, Kidd said: “Well, we’ll have to put somebody else on Kobe.’’
In the Mavs' two games against the Lakers this season, Bryant is just 11-of-37 from the field with 29 points. Bryant leads the NBA in scoring with 28.7 poiints per game.
-- Dwain Price
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