Lakers vs Mavs Preview: Larry Nance Returns

Larry Nance Jr. expects to return for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, after the rookie forward missed four game with a sore knee

On Tuesday, the Dallas Mavericks (25-21) arrive in Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Lakers (9-37). However, Dallas just dropped back-to-back games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and away to the Houston Rockets, so the Mavericks sit sixth in the West upon landing at LAX.

Nose-diving to the depth of the Pacific Ocean and Conference, the Lakers have lost 10 of their last 11 games—including six in a row. Over the six-game streak, LA has failed to entirely compete with its opposition. The latest loss led to Kobe Bryant unleashing a "heartfelt, passionate speech," which is how rookie Larry Nance called referred to the post-game address. The 37-year-old reportedly singled out lottery draft picks D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle.

Amidst the turmoil, LA has good news.

Nance expects to be back available to play on Tuesday night after successfully scrimmaging at Monday's practice. When asked, Lakers coach Byron Scott said that he had not yet decided whether or not Nance would re-assume his starting spot in the lineup. Nance only played three minutes over the Lakers' past five games--all of which ended as one-sided defeats.

The arguments debating Julius Randle versus Nance took a welcome break while the rookie rested his sore knee. However, if Nance starts over Randle, a vociferous segment of fans will undoubtedly take the opportunity to attack Scott with the same exhausted argument that has carried on all season long.

Regardless of which side of the argument ultimately wins out, the two young prospects expect to continue splitting all 48 available minutes at the power forward position. In terms of playing the duo as a tandem, Scott said that opposition matchups would dictate that type of lineup.

Incidentally, Nance pointed to running up and down the court against Draymond Green, who is the Golden State Warriors' forward turned small-ball center, as being the final straw that forced the shutdown of the 23-year-old's knee. So, perhaps playing both Randle and Nance may not be the best idea if the goal is to keep the 23-year-old on the court for the remainder of the season.

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Nance underwent ACL surgery in the early part of 2014 while at the University of Wyoming, so soreness, icing and minor knee swelling are a part of package. That said, Nance said that he felt "100 percent" following Monday's practice, which included Nance rising to attempt a dunk over second-year center Tarik Black.

Due to the soreness, however, ESPN's Baxter Holmes reported that Nance informed the league of his decision to retract his candidacy from the 2016 NBA Slam Dunk contest. Nance's father won the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk contest, and the high-flying kid from Akron had previously expressed interest in participating.

In any case, Nance is back, and his defense, energy and intangibles improve the struggling Lakers.

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

Notes: Brandon Bass is listed as probable with a sore right foot. Ryan Kelly missed Monday's practice with gastroenteritis and could be in doubt. Bryant is officially listed as probable. Dallas center Zaza Pachulia sat out Sunday's game, but he expects to return on Tuesday.

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