KEVIN DING

Dwight gathered Jamison/Clark/Meeks/Blake now pre-4Q to give a little pep talk. Good for Dwight to take ownership of this group.

D'Antoni asked Dwight to defend Dirk. Dwight said he has three fouls. D'Antoni nodded and told Antawn to guard Dirk.

Dwight's shoulder, aggravated last game, clearly not an issue today. He jumped up and aggressively pulled on the rim here pre-2nd half.

Dwight having counter move there in the post to go back the other direction on Brand earned the foul. Kobe got up off the bench in support.

While Dwight was deep in the post (about to miss), Dallas' Shawn Marion yelled from the scorer's table: "Let him shoot that s***!"

For his part, Dwight was doing all the talking about how to finish that defensive stop Lakers just got with nice double on Dirk.

Kobe has thrown that pass to Derek Fisher so many times. This time, it's Nash for 3. ... LAL 99, DAL 95 with 1:30 left

Mavs have an afraid-to-lose look to them. Let's see if Lakers can take it. ... LAL 91, DAL 90.

Dirk scores. ... LAL 76, DAL 75.

Kobe went cold late in first half, losing lift on his shot and not looking physically quite right. ... LAL 54, DAL 54 at halftime.

Kobe is tutoring Dwight in this timeout about how DH could've improved post move a moment ago to spin by Elton Brand. ... LAL 38, DAL 34.

That was a called play from D'Antoni ("Delay") for Kobe to take the handoff and send O.J. Mayo skidding. ... LAL 24, DAL 23.

More on Kobe (sarcastic about it) trying not to draw three technicals in 25 remaining games:

Fun game, fun stuff. RT @mcuban: But I do have to give props to @kobebryant for a great tweet. #Welldone.

Kobe wins game -- and social media.

Kobe not thrilled with Metta's offensve game today. Twice Kobe's body language disgusted with Metta's forays. Once wouldn't pass to him.

Dwight's shoulder, aggravated last game, clearly not an issue today. He jumped up and aggressively pulled on the rim here pre-2nd half.

Kobe will be suspended one game if he reaches 16 technicals this regular season. In past, he has vowed to stop short of that happening.

Mike D'Antoni on @kobebryant: "That's what he does. That's what he loves. That's what he trains for."

D'Antoni asked Dwight to defend Dirk. Dwight said he has three fouls. D'Antoni nodded and told Antawn to guard Dirk.

That was a called play from D'Antoni ("Delay") for Kobe to take the handoff and send O.J. Mayo skidding. ... LAL 24, DAL 23.

Not sure about this, but D'Antoni said today real impact of @paugasol would be in playoffs: "By the time he comes back, we'll be in or out."

D'Antoni is literally hopping mad at Metta for his extended 1-on-1 foray that resulted in a five-second violation.

After Dwight came up empty on consecutive post-ups, D'Antoni called for a Kobe isolation. Bucket. ... POR 99, LAL 97.

Dallas' Elton Brand on Kobe: "He just hit some tough shots, which he's done his entire career."

Lakers are rushing out of Dallas now in hopes of getting to Denver before a winter storm expected to drop up to a foot of snow stops them.

Recap of Lakers winning in Dallas behind Nash's 20 (his high as a Laker) and Kobe's 38:

Poor Brian Forte. After Forte's call against Mayo for Kobe, Mark Cuban asked Dallas bench for Forte's name to yell specifically at him.

While Dwight was deep in the post (about to miss), Dallas' Shawn Marion yelled from the scorer's table: "Let him shoot that s***!"

Dwight gathered Jamison/Clark/Meeks/Blake now pre-4Q to give a little pep talk. Good for Dwight to take ownership of this group.

Earl Clark isn't totally used to this starting gig yet. Introduced in arena ... and wasn't there. Came out from locker room late, grinning.

Earl Clark's finger being called a left pinky sprain by Lakers.

Earl Clark has his left pinky finger mummified in tape. He hurt it late in game tonight.

D'Antoni sent Blake in for Clark early so Clark would be fresh to play more center in place of sore-shouldered Howard. ... POR 82, LAL 80.

Career-high 15 rebounds for Earl Clark tonight. Apparently that All-Star break relaxation in Hawaii hit the spot. ... LAL 108, BOS 92.